Devices and Methods for a Ring Computing Device

ABSTRACT

A user controls an external electronic device with a finger-ring-mounted touchscreen that includes a computer processor, wireless transceiver, and rechargeable power source; the ring is worn on a first finger receives an input from a second finger, selects one of a plurality of touch events associated with the input, and wirelessly transmits a command associated with the touch event to the external electronic device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application Ser. No. 61/973,469, filed on Apr. 1, 2014, which ishereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The embodiments described herein relate generally to electronic deviceswith touch-sensitive surfaces, gesture sensors, and/or voice-inputrecognition, including but not limited to electronic devices wearable ona user's finger having touch-sensitive display surfaces, gesturesensors, and/or microphones.

BACKGROUND

The use of touch-sensitive surfaces as input devices for computers andother electronic computing devices has increased significantly in recentyears. Exemplary touch-sensitive surfaces include touchpads andtouch-screen displays. Such surfaces are widely used to manipulate userinterface objects on a display.

Use of existing touchpads and touch-screen displays, however, may becumbersome, inconvenient, or inefficient for certain tasks andapplications. A user's hands may be preoccupied with another task, forexample, or the user's hands and/or arms may become fatigued afterholding the device in a viewing position for extended periods of time.The light emitted by a touchscreen may be inappropriate in certainsocial environments or even dangerous if it gives away the position of athreatened user. Furthermore, switching back-and-forth between differentinput modes, such as a keyboard and mouse, may be inefficient. A needtherefore exists for a more discreet, safer, more efficient, or moreergonomic way to interact with touch pads or touch screens.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, there is a need for electronic devices with faster, moreefficient methods and interfaces for interacting and/or controllingexternal electronic devices. Such methods and interfaces optionallycomplement or replace conventional methods for interaction. Such methodsand interfaces reduce the cognitive burden on a user and produce a moreefficient human-machine interface. With respect to battery-operateddevices, such methods and interfaces conserve power and increase thetime between battery charges.

In some implementations, a wearable ring device includes an annularmember defining an aperture therethrough that is sized for receipttherein of a first finger of a user, a computer processor housed in theannular member, a touchscreen electrically connected to the computerprocessor and disposed at least partially at an outer peripheral surfaceof the annular member, wherein the touchscreen is configured to receiveinput from a second finger of the user, a wireless transceiverelectrically connected to the computer processor and configured tocommunicate with at least one external electronic device, and arechargeable power source for supplying power to the touchscreen,wireless transceiver, and computer processor. In some embodiments, thewearable ring device further includes a microphone electricallyconnected to the computer processor for recognizing a voice command ofthe user; the microphone is configured to activate to in response to acommand by the user. In some embodiments, the wearable ring devicefurther includes a haptic actuator for identifying recognition of thecommand to the user and a second haptic actuator, wherein the hapticactuator and second haptic actuator are configured for conveyingdirectional information to the user. In some embodiments, the wearablering device further includes a dial control for receiving input from theuser, a wireless power receiver circuit for recharging the power sourcefrom a wireless power source, and/or a sensor for sensing a writingmotion of the user, wherein the wireless transceiver transmitsinformation to the at least one external electronic device related tocharacters written by the user. In some embodiments, the wearable ringdevice further includes a biometric sensor for sensing biometricinformation of the user and/or a near-field-communication transmitterfor transmitting data related to the user.

In some implementations, a method for controlling a remote electronicdevice using a finger-ring-mounted touchscreen includes receiving, on atouchscreen electrically connected to a computer processor and disposedat least partially at an outer peripheral surface of a ring disposed ona first finger of a user, input from a second finger of the user,selecting, using the computer processor, one of a plurality of touchevents associated with the input, and wirelessly transmitting a commandassociated with the touch event to at least one external electronicdevice. In some embodiments, the method further includes notifying theuser of transmission of the command by issuing haptic feedback to thefirst finger of the user; selecting the one of the plurality of touchevents may include recognizing a gesture made by the user that isassociated with the command. In some embodiments, the externalelectronic device is a second finger-ring-mounted and the transmittedcommand causes the second finger-ring-mounted to issue feedbackcorresponding to a message of the user to a second user; the user mayassociate the input with the feedback. In some embodiments, the methodfurther includes receiving, using a microphone electrically connected tothe computer processor, a voice input of the user, and transmitting thevoice input to the at least one external electronic device. In someembodiments, the method further includes activating the microphone inresponse to a command from the user and/or establishing a wireless linkwith the at least one external electronic device in response to agesture by the user; the gesture may include pointing at the externalelectronic device with the first finger. In some embodiments, the methodfurther includes detecting handwriting of the user using a motion sensorelectrically connected to a computer processor and transmitting thedetected handwriting to the at least one external electronic device; theinput may be a character drawn by the user on the finger-ring-mountedtouchscreen. The at least one external electronic device may furtherreceive commands from at least one other finger-ring-mountedtouchscreen. In some embodiments, a state of the external electronicdevice is changed and/or information is transmitted to the externalelectronic device by bringing a near-field communication deviceelectrically connected to the computer processor into proximitytherewith.

In some implementations, a method for displaying information using aring computing device worn on a first finger of a user includesreceiving, using a wireless transceiver electrically connected to acomputer processor housed in the ring computing device, informationtransmitted from at least one external electronic device, and displayinginformation on a touchscreen electrically connected to the computerprocessor and disposed at least partially at an outer peripheral surfaceof the ring computing device. In some embodiments, the method furtherincludes activating a haptic actuator based on the received information;the received information may include a character drawn by a second userof a second ring computing device, and activating the haptic actuatormay include a plurality of pulses encoding the received information. Insome embodiments, the method further includes receiving input from asecond finger of the user on the touchscreen, selecting, using thecomputer processor, one of a plurality of touch events associated withthe input; and wirelessly transmitting a command associated with thetouch event to at least one external electronic device. In someembodiments, a state of the external electronic device is changed and/orinformation is transmitted to the external electronic device by bringinga near-field communication device electrically connected to the computerprocessor into proximity therewith.

The above deficiencies and other problems associated with userinterfaces for electronic devices with touch-sensitive surfaces arereduced or eliminated by the disclosed devices. In some embodiments, thedevice is a ring computing device. In some embodiments, the deviceincludes a touchpad. In some embodiments, the device includes atouch-sensitive display (also known as a “touch screen” or “touch-screendisplay”). In some embodiments, the device includes, one or moreprocessors, memory and one or more modules, programs or sets ofinstructions stored in the memory for performing multiple functionsincluding generating a graphical user interface (GUI). In someembodiments, the user interacts with the GUI primarily through fingercontacts and/or gestures on the touch-sensitive surface or gesturescaptured by sensors disposed in or on the device. In some embodiments,the functions optionally include cursor control, video playback control,volume control, text capture, text entry, motion capture, or audio orvideo selection. Executable instructions for performing these functionsare, optionally, included in a non-transitory computer readable storagemedium or other computer program product configured for execution by oneor more processors.

Thus, a ring computing device with a display, touch-sensitive surfaceand/or one or more sensors to detect the intensity of a contact with thetouch-sensitive surface are provided with faster, more efficient methodsand interfaces for controlling external electronic devices, therebyincreasing the effectiveness, efficiency, and user satisfaction withsuch devices. For example, the ring computing device is more portablethan a mouse, doesn't require a computer, doesn't require eye contactwith the touch screen, allows the user to not be tied to a computer,cellular phone, or tablet to certain control electronic devices (e.g.,televisions), reduces the inefficiencies of mode switching by notrequiring a user to move his or her hand off a keyboard to move a mouseor touchpad, and is smaller, more portable, and less obtrusive thanexisting devices. The ring computing device can be operated using asingle hand; the ring does not need to be put aside when, for example,the user needs to hold another object. The ring computing device can becarried unobtrusively for periods of time by the user and used when theuser requires (to, for example, control light of a room as the userenters the room or to control devices at work or in a car). The ringcomputing device can also receive information from external devices inthe form of messages or images on a touchscreen, pulses or vibrations ofhaptic actuators, and sound. Such methods and interfaces may complementor replace conventional methods for controlling external electronicdevices or to receive and reply to information from external electronicdevices, including other ring computing devices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the various described embodiments,reference should be made to the Description of Embodiments below, inconjunction with the following drawings in which like reference numeralsrefer to corresponding parts throughout the figures.

FIG. 1 illustrates a ring computing device with a touch-sensitive pad ordisplay in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 2 illustrates a ring computing device with a touch-sensitive pad ordisplay, camera, and buttons in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 3 illustrates a ring computing device with a touch-sensitive pad ordisplay, buttons, and a dial control or crown in accordance with someembodiments.

FIG. 4 illustrates a ring computing device with a touch-sensitive pad ordisplay, a microphone, and a speaker in accordance with someembodiments.

FIG. 5 illustrates a ring computing device with buttons, a dial control,a speaker, and a microphone in accordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C illustrate a ring computing devices in accordancewith some embodiments.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary ring computingdevice system in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating exemplary components for eventhandling in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 9 illustrates a ring computing device communicating with anexternal electronic device in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 10 illustrates two ring computing devices communicating with anexternal electronic device in accordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 11, 12, and 13 are flow diagrams illustrating a method of using aring computing device in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 14 illustrates a wall-mounted wireless charging hook or stud for aring computing device in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 15 illustrates steering-wheel-mounted wireless charger for a ringcomputing device in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 16 is a functional block diagram of an electronic device inaccordance with some embodiments.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Various embodiments of the present invention include a ring computingdevice that is configured to be worn on a first finger of a user andthat includes one or more components for capturing user input and/or forproviding output to the user. As the term is used herein, “finger” meansany finger of a user, including thumb, fore or index finger, middlefinger, ring finger, and pinky finger of either hand. In someembodiments, the ring is preferably worn on the user's index finger ofthe user's predominant hand. The user may use the ring computing deviceto control one or more external electronic devices, such as a smarttelevision, cellular telephone, laptop computer, tablet computer,automobile audio or telephone system, game console, smart watch,automation devices or any other such device. The ring computing devicemay employ a touch pad, touch screen, microphone, or motion sensors tocapture user input via touches, audio commands, or hand gestures. Insome embodiments, the user controls the device using a second finger(one of a thumb, fore or index finger, middle finger, ring finger, andpinky finger of either hand, different from the first finger). In thoseembodiments where the ring is worn on the user's index finder, the userwill generally control the device using the thumb of that same hand asshown in FIG. 6C. In some embodiments, the device provides feedback tothe user via speech or other audio or haptic feedback (e.g.,vibrations), or via a display.

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, examples of whichare illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the following detaileddescription, numerous specific details are set forth in order to providea thorough understanding of the various described embodiments. However,it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the variousdescribed embodiments may be practiced without these specific details.In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components,circuits, and networks have not been described in detail so as not tounnecessarily obscure aspects of the embodiments.

It will also be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc.are, in some instances, used herein to describe various elements, theseelements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only usedto distinguish one element from another. For example, a first contactcould be termed a second contact, and, similarly, a second contact couldbe termed a first contact, without departing from the scope of thevarious described embodiments. The first contact and the second contactare both contacts, but they are not the same contact, unless the contextclearly indicates otherwise.

The terminology used in the description of the various describedembodiments herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used in thedescription of the various described embodiments and the appendedclaims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to includethe plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will also be understood that the term “and/or” as usedherein refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations ofone or more of the associated listed items. It will be furtherunderstood that the terms “includes,” “including,” “comprises,” and/or“comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence ofstated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/orcomponents, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or moreother features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components,and/or groups thereof.

As used herein, the term “if” is, optionally, construed to mean “when”or “upon” or “in response to determining” or “in response to detecting,”depending on the context. Similarly, the phrase “if it is determined” or“if [a stated condition or event] is detected” is, optionally, construedto mean “upon determining” or “in response to determining” or “upondetecting [the stated condition or event]” or “in response to detecting[the stated condition or event],” depending on the context.

The various applications that are executed on the device optionally useat least one common physical user-interface device, such as thetouch-sensitive surface. One or more functions of the touch-sensitivesurface as well as corresponding information displayed on the deviceare, optionally, adjusted and/or varied from one application to the nextand/or within a respective application. In this way, a common physicalarchitecture (such as the touch-sensitive surface) of the deviceoptionally supports the variety of applications with user interfacesthat are intuitive and transparent to the user.

Attention is now directed toward embodiments of ring computing deviceswith touch-sensitive pads or displays. FIG. 1 illustrates a ringcomputing device 100 in accordance with some embodiments of the presentinvention. A structural member 102 houses one or more electroniccomponents (such as a processor, memory, and sensors, as described ingreater detail below with reference to FIG. 7) and defines an aperture104 capable of receiving a user's finger. The member 102 includes anouter peripheral surface 106 and an inner peripheral surface 108. Theinner peripheral surface 108 may be contoured or sized to conform to thefinger of the user so that as the member 102 grips the finger withsufficient strength or force to prevent accidental slipping but withoutcausing harm or discomfort to the user. The outer peripheral surface 106may house or otherwise include one or more user input or output devices,such as, in the pictured embodiment, a touch screen or touch pad 110.

The touch screen or touch pad 110 may be any shape or size; in variousembodiments, the touch screen or touch pad 110 is square, rectangular,circular, or oval, and may be approximately one centimeter to fivecentimeters per side or between opposing corners (i.e., a diagonaldimension). In some embodiments the touch screen or touch pad 110 has adiagonal dimension of less than three centimeters. In other embodiments,the touch screen or touch pad 110 has a diagonal dimension of less thantwo centimeters. The touch screen or touch pad 110 should have thesmallest size while still providing ample control. In some embodiments,the touch screen or touch pad 110 is a capacitive touch screen, aresistive touch screen, or any other type of touch screen or touch padknown in the art. The resolution of the touch screen or pad may beapproximately equal to that of the touch screen of a tablet computer orwrist computer (i.e., smart watch) or that of a laptop touchpad; inother embodiments, the resolution may be greater or smaller.

In some embodiments, the member 102 is made from a rigid or semirigidmaterial, such as metal or plastic; the metal may be gold, silver,platinum, or any other metal. In other embodiments, the member 102 ismade from a stretchable or expandable material, such as silicone. Insome embodiments, a rigid member 102 is available in a plurality ofdifferent ring sizes from which a user may select, as appropriate, basedon the size of the finger of the user. In other embodiments, the member102 is made from a series of interconnected segments, where the user canadd or subtract segments to achieve the desired ring size. In otherembodiments, a stretchable member is available in only one size or asmall number of sizes (e.g., small, medium, and large) and a userselects the single size or one of the small number of sizes of themember 102. In some embodiments, the touch screen or pad 110 (and someor all of its associated electronics, described in greater detail belowwith reference to FIG. 7) are separable from the member 102, therebyallowing a user to replace the member 102 with a replacement member 102that may be of a different size, color, or material or allowing the userto place the touch screen or pad 110 (and some or all of its associatedelectronics, described in greater detail below with reference to FIG. 7)in a different device or apparatus, such as an appliance, television, orautomobile dashboard. The user interface components of the ring (e.g.,the touch screen or pad, buttons, camera, or sensors) may be configuredsuch that the ring 100 is symmetrical and may thus be worn on fingers ofeither hand. In other embodiments, the ring 100 is configured to benon-symmetric and may thus be worn on the right or left hand. In someembodiments, the ring 100 is adjustable to fit different size fingers.Cylinders having a fixed-size outer circumference but having variedinner ring sizes may be inserted and attach to the ring aperture 104 toadjust for user finger size. In other embodiments, part of the ring 100is mechanically or electronically moved and latched into position by theuser or automatically (via, e.g., the use of sensors and actuators tosense the tightness of the ring on the user's finger), therebyincreasing or decreasing the inner circumference of the ring to fit theuser's finger size. The ring 100 may be worn on any portion of anyfinger; in some embodiments, the ring 100 is worn at the base of theindex finger or toward the tip of the index finger.

FIG. 2 illustrates a ring computing device 200 in accordance with someembodiments of the present invention. In this embodiment, the member 202houses or includes a touch screen or touch pad 204 in addition tophysical button(s) 206, 208. While two buttons 206, 208 are illustratedin this embodiment, any number of buttons are within the scope of thepresent invention. The buttons 206, 208 may be mechanical and include adepressible component that makes contact with a conductive element inresponse to a user press; the buttons 206, 208 may thereafter return toa default position in response to an expansion of a spring or otherbiasing element. The buttons 206, 208 may instead or in addition beelectrically operated by sensing touch or proximity, e.g., through thecapacitance of a user's finger. Any type of button is within the scopeof the present invention, and one button 206 may be a first type whileanother button 208 may be a second type. In some embodiments, the ringcomputing device includes a still and/or video camera 210. In theillustrated embodiment, the camera 210 is disposed on or in the ringcomputing device 202 at approximately 90 degrees circumferentialrotation away from the touchscreen or pad 204 such that the camera 210faces outward when the user's hand is closed into a fist, and such thatthe view of the camera is not obscured by the user's palm; thisplacement may be ideal for capturing pictures from the point of view ofthe user. Any placement of the camera 210 is, however, within the scopeof the present invention. Another camera 210 may be placed on the ring200 approximately 90 degrees circumferential rotation away from thetouch pad or screen 202 in the direction opposite the illustrated camera210 (i.e., approximately 180 degrees circumferential rotation away fromthe illustrated camera 210); this placement may be ideal for capturingself-photographs of the user. The shutter of the camera 202 may beactivated by a button 206, a gesture on the touchscreen or pad 204, by avoice input, by a hand gesture, or by any other input.

In some embodiments, the buttons 206, 208 activate fixed functions whenpressed, such as “go to a home screen” or “activate voice recognition,”while in other embodiments, the functions change based on a currentlyactive application running on the device 200 (as described in greaterdetail below). In other embodiments, the functions of the buttons 206,208 are programmable by the user using an on-device or remoteconfiguration application.

FIG. 3 illustrates a ring computing device 300 in accordance with someembodiments of the present invention. Like the above-describedembodiments, the device 300 includes a member 302 and a touch screen/pad304. In some embodiments, the device 300 includes buttons 306, 308 aswell as a dial control 310, also known as a “crown” or crown-stylecontrol. In various embodiments, a user may input commands to the device300 by rotating the dial control 310 in one of two directions; the dialcontrol 310 may also act as a button and activate another function whenpressed. In some embodiments, rotating the dial control 310 scrollsthrough icons to invoke applications, through already open applications,or scrolls within an open application (e.g. to scroll a screen of theapplication or to select between objects, features, or other optionswithin the application). In some embodiments, a small trackball is usedinstead of the dial control 310 to allow rotations in multipledirections. In this embodiment, rotation in one direction performs onefunction (e.g., a vertical scroll moves between application categories),and rotation in a perpendicular direction performs another function(e.g., a horizontal scroll moves between applications in a particularcategory).

FIG. 4 illustrates a ring computing device 400, in accordance with someembodiments of the present invention. The ring computing device 400includes a member 402 and a touch screen/pad 404. In this embodiment, aspeaker 406 housed in or included on the member 402 is configured tooutput audio to the user. In some embodiments, a microphone 410 isincluded to record audio input from the user and/or surroundingenvironment. In some embodiments, the ring computing device communicatesvia a wire or wirelessly with an external microphone and/or speakers.

FIG. 5 illustrates a ring computing device 500, in accordance with someembodiments of the present invention. The ring computing device 500includes a speaker 504, a microphone 506, buttons 508, 512, and/or adial control 510. In some embodiments, the device 500 does not include atouchscreen or touchpad.

FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C illustrate various embodiments of ring computingdevices in accordance with the present invention. Device 600A includes atouch screen or pad 602 that is less than the width of the device, whiledevice 600B includes a touch screen or pad 610 that is greater than awidth of the device. Microphones 604, 612 are included on each device600A, 600B.

FIG. 600C illustrates a device 620 being worn on a hand 622 of a user;the device is worn on a first finger 624 (here, an index finger) and iscontrolled with a second finger 626 (here, a thumb). The presentinvention is not limited to the device 620 being worn on an indexfinger, however; in other embodiments, the device 620 may be worn on anyfinger and controlled by any finger.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a ring computing device 700 withtouch-sensitive display or pad system 712 in accordance with someembodiments. Touch-sensitive display system 712 is sometimes called a“touch screen” for convenience, and is sometimes simply called atouch-sensitive display. Device 700 includes memory 702 (whichoptionally includes one or more computer readable storage mediums),memory controller 722, one or more processing units (CPUs) 720,peripherals interface 718, RF circuitry 708, audio circuitry 710,speaker 711, microphone 713, input/output (I/O) subsystem 706, otherinput or control devices 716, and external port 724. Device 700optionally includes one or more optical sensors 764. Device 700optionally includes one or more intensity sensors 765 for detectingintensity of contacts on device 700 (e.g., a touch-sensitive surfacesuch as touch-sensitive display system 712 of device 700). Device 700optionally includes one or more tactile output generators 763 forgenerating tactile outputs on device 700 (e.g., generating tactileoutputs on a touch-sensitive surface such as touch-sensitive displaysystem 712 of device 700 or touchpad 355 of device 300). Thesecomponents optionally communicate over one or more communication busesor signal lines 703.

As used in the specification and claims, the term “tactile output”refers to physical displacement of a device relative to a previousposition of the device, physical displacement of a component (e.g., atouch-sensitive surface) of a device relative to another component(e.g., housing) of the device, or displacement of the component relativeto a center of mass of the device that will be detected by a user withthe user's sense of touch. For example, in situations where the deviceor the component of the device is in contact with a surface of a userthat is sensitive to touch (e.g., a finger, palm, or other part of auser's hand), the tactile output generated by the physical displacementwill be interpreted by the user as a tactile sensation corresponding toa perceived change in physical characteristics of the device or thecomponent of the device. For example, movement of a touch-sensitivesurface (e.g., a touch-sensitive display or trackpad) is, optionally,interpreted by the user as a “down click” or “up click” of a physicalactuator button. In some cases, a user will feel a tactile sensationsuch as an “down click” or “up click” even when there is no movement ofa physical actuator button associated with the touch-sensitive surfacethat is physically pressed (e.g., displaced) by the user's movements. Asanother example, movement of the touch-sensitive surface is, optionally,interpreted or sensed by the user as “roughness” of the touch-sensitivesurface, even when there is no change in smoothness of thetouch-sensitive surface. While such interpretations of touch by a userwill be subject to the individualized sensory perceptions of the user,there are many sensory perceptions of touch that are common to a largemajority of users. Thus, when a tactile output is described ascorresponding to a particular sensory perception of a user (e.g., an “upclick,” a “down click,” “roughness”), unless otherwise stated, thegenerated tactile output corresponds to physical displacement of thedevice or a component thereof that will generate the described sensoryperception for a typical (or average) user.

It should be appreciated that device 700 is only one example of a ringcomputing device, and that device 700 optionally has more or fewercomponents than shown, optionally combines two or more components, oroptionally has a different configuration or arrangement of thecomponents. The various components shown in FIG. 7 are implemented inhardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof, including one ormore signal processing and/or application specific integrated circuits.

Memory 702 optionally includes high-speed random access memory andoptionally also includes non-volatile memory, such as one or moremagnetic disk storage devices, flash memory devices, or othernon-volatile solid-state memory devices. Access to memory 702 by othercomponents of device 700, such as CPU(s) 720 and the peripheralsinterface 718, is, optionally, controlled by memory controller 722.

Peripherals interface 718 can be used to couple input and outputperipherals of the device to CPU(s) 720 and memory 702. The one or moreprocessors 720 run or execute various software programs and/or sets ofinstructions stored in memory 702 to perform various functions fordevice 700 and to process data.

In some embodiments, peripherals interface 718, CPU(s) 720, and memorycontroller 722 are, optionally, implemented on a single chip, such aschip 704. In some other embodiments, they are, optionally, implementedon separate chips.

RF (radio frequency) circuitry 708 receives and sends RF signals, alsocalled electromagnetic signals. RF circuitry 708 converts electricalsignals to/from electromagnetic signals and communicates withcommunications networks and other communications devices via theelectromagnetic signals. RF circuitry 708 optionally includes well-knowncircuitry for performing these functions, including but not limited toan antenna system, an RF transceiver, one or more amplifiers, a tuner,one or more oscillators, a digital signal processor, a CODEC chipset, asubscriber identity module (SIM) card, memory, and so forth. RFcircuitry 708 optionally communicates with networks, such as theInternet, also referred to as the World Wide Web (WWW), an intranetand/or a wireless network, such as a cellular telephone network, awireless local area network (LAN) and/or a metropolitan area network(MAN), and other devices by wireless communication. The wirelesscommunication optionally uses any of a plurality of communicationsstandards, protocols and technologies, including but not limited toGlobal System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Enhanced Data GSMEnvironment (EDGE), high-speed downlink packet access (HSDPA),high-speed uplink packet access (HSUPA), Evolution, Data-Only (EV-DO),HSPA, HSPA+, Dual-Cell HSPA (DC-HSPDA), long term evolution (LTE), nearfield communication (NFC), wideband code division multiple access(W-CDMA), code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multipleaccess (TDMA), Bluetooth, Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) (e.g., IEEE 802.17,IEEE 802.17c, IEEE 802.17x, IEEE 802.18, IEEE 802.11g and/or IEEE802.11n), voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), Wi-MAX, a protocol fore-mail (e.g., Internet message access protocol (IMAP) and/or post officeprotocol (POP)), instant messaging (e.g., extensible messaging andpresence protocol (XMPP), Session Initiation Protocol for InstantMessaging and Presence Leveraging Extensions (SIMPLE), Instant Messagingand Presence Service (IMPS)), and/or Short Message Service (SMS), or anyother suitable communication protocol, including communication protocolsnot yet developed as of the filing date of this document.

Audio circuitry 710, speaker 711, and microphone 713 provide an audiointerface between a user and device 700. Audio circuitry 710 receivesaudio data from peripherals interface 718, converts the audio data to anelectrical signal, and transmits the electrical signal to speaker 711.Speaker 711 converts the electrical signal to human-audible sound waves.Audio circuitry 710 also receives electrical signals converted bymicrophone 713 from sound waves. Audio circuitry 710 converts theelectrical signal to audio data and transmits the audio data toperipherals interface 718 for processing. Audio data is, optionally,retrieved from and/or transmitted to memory 702 and/or RF circuitry 708by peripherals interface 718. In some embodiments, audio circuitry 710also includes a headset jack (e.g., 212, FIG. 2). The headset jackprovides an interface between audio circuitry 710 and removable audioinput/output peripherals, such as output-only headphones or a headsetwith both output (e.g., a headphone for one or both ears) and input(e.g., a microphone).

I/O subsystem 706 couples input/output peripherals on device 700, suchas touch-sensitive display system 712 and other input or control devices716, with peripherals interface 718. I/O subsystem 706 optionallyincludes display controller 756, optical sensor controller 758,intensity sensor controller 759, haptic feedback controller 761, and oneor more input controllers 760 for other input or control devices. Theone or more input controllers 760 receive/send electrical signalsfrom/to other input or control devices 716. The other input or controldevices 716 optionally include physical buttons (e.g., push buttons,rocker buttons, etc.), dials, slider switches, joysticks, click wheels,and so forth or biometric sensors such as heart-rate or pulse monitors,skin-electrical-resistance monitors, pressure sensors, perspirationanalyzers, fingerprint readers, and so forth. In some alternateembodiments, input controller(s) 760 are, optionally, coupled with any(or none) of the following: a keyboard, infrared port, USB port, stylus,and/or a pointer device such as a mouse. The one or more buttons (e.g.,208, FIG. 2) optionally include an up/down button for volume control ofspeaker 711 and/or microphone 713. The one or more buttons optionallyinclude a push button (e.g., 206, FIG. 2).

Touch-sensitive display system 712 provides an input interface and anoutput interface between the device and a user. Display controller 756receives and/or sends electrical signals from/to touch-sensitive displaysystem 712. Touch-sensitive display system 712 displays visual output tothe user. The visual output optionally includes graphics, text, icons,video, and any combination thereof (collectively termed “graphics”). Insome embodiments, some or all of the visual output corresponds touser-interface objects.

Touch-sensitive display system 712 has a touch-sensitive surface, sensoror set of sensors that accepts input from the user based onhaptic/tactile contact. Touch-sensitive display system 712 and displaycontroller 756 (along with any associated modules and/or sets ofinstructions in memory 702) detect contact (and any movement or breakingof the contact) on touch-sensitive display system 712 and converts thedetected contact into interaction with user-interface objects (e.g., oneor more soft keys, icons, web pages or images) that are displayed ontouch-sensitive display system 712. In an exemplary embodiment, a pointof contact between touch-sensitive display system 712 and the usercorresponds to a finger of the user or a stylus.

Touch-sensitive display system 712 optionally uses LCD (liquid crystaldisplay) technology, LPD (light emitting polymer display) technology, orLED (light emitting diode) technology, although other displaytechnologies are used in other embodiments. Touch-sensitive displaysystem 712 and display controller 756 optionally detect contact and anymovement or breaking thereof using any of a plurality of touch sensingtechnologies now known or later developed, including but not limited tocapacitive, resistive, infrared, and surface acoustic wave technologies,as well as other proximity sensor arrays or other elements fordetermining one or more points of contact with touch-sensitive displaysystem 712. In an exemplary embodiment, projected mutual capacitancesensing technology is used, such as that found in the iPhone®, iPodTouch®, and iPad® from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.

Touch-sensitive display system 712 optionally has a video resolution inexcess of 700 dpi. In some embodiments, the touch screen videoresolution is in excess of 400 dpi (e.g., 500 dpi, 800 dpi, or greater).The user optionally makes contact with touch-sensitive display system712 using any suitable object or digit, such as a stylus, a finger, andso forth. In some embodiments, the user interface is designed to workwith finger-based contacts and gestures, which can be less precise thanstylus-based input due to the larger area of contact of a finger on thetouch screen. In some embodiments, the device translates the roughfinger-based input into a precise pointer/cursor position or command forperforming the actions desired by the user.

In some embodiments, in addition to or instead of the touch screen,device 700 optionally includes a touchpad (not shown) for activating ordeactivating particular functions. In some embodiments, the touchpad isa touch-sensitive area of the device that, unlike the touch screen, doesnot display visual output. The touchpad is, optionally, atouch-sensitive surface that is separate from touch-sensitive displaysystem 712 or an extension of the touch-sensitive surface formed by thetouch screen.

Device 700 also includes power system 762 for powering the variouscomponents. Power system 762 optionally includes a power managementsystem, one or more power sources (e.g., battery, alternating current(AC)), a recharging system, a power failure detection circuit, a powerconverter or inverter, a power status indicator (e.g., a light-emittingdiode (LED)) and any other components associated with the generation,management and distribution of power in portable devices. The rechargingsystem may be configured to receive wired power (from, e.g., a micro-USBcharger) or wireless power transmitted via electromagnetic waves.

Device 700 optionally also includes one or more optical sensors 764.FIG. 7 shows an optical sensor coupled with optical sensor controller758 in I/O subsystem 706. Optical sensor(s) 764 optionally includecharge-coupled device (CCD) or complementary metal-oxide semiconductor(CMOS) phototransistors. Optical sensor(s) 764 receive light from theenvironment, projected through one or more lens, and converts the lightto data representing an image. In conjunction with imaging module 743(also called a camera module), optical sensor(s) 764 optionally capturestill images and/or video. In some embodiments, an optical sensor islocated on the back of device 700, opposite touch-sensitive displaysystem 712 on the front of the device, so that the touch screen isenabled for use as a viewfinder for still and/or video imageacquisition. In some embodiments, another optical sensor is located onthe front of the device so that the user's image is obtained (e.g., forselfies, for videoconferencing while the user views the other videoconference participants on the touch screen, etc.).

Device 700 optionally also includes one or more contact intensitysensors 765. FIG. 7 shows a contact intensity sensor coupled withintensity sensor controller 759 in I/O subsystem 706. Contact intensitysensor(s) 765 optionally include one or more piezoresistive straingauges, capacitive force sensors, electric force sensors, piezoelectricforce sensors, optical force sensors, capacitive touch-sensitivesurfaces, or other intensity sensors (e.g., sensors used to measure theforce (or pressure) of a contact on a touch-sensitive surface). Contactintensity sensor(s) 765 receive contact intensity information (e.g.,pressure information or a proxy for pressure information) from theenvironment. In some embodiments, at least one contact intensity sensoris collocated with, or proximate to, a touch-sensitive surface (e.g.,touch-sensitive display system 712). In some embodiments, at least onecontact intensity sensor is located on the back of device 700, oppositetouch-screen display system 712 which is located on the front of device700.

Device 700 optionally also includes one or more proximity sensors 766.FIG. 7 shows proximity sensor 766 coupled with peripherals interface718. Alternately, proximity sensor 766 is coupled with input controller760 in I/O subsystem 706. In some embodiments, the proximity sensorturns off and disables touch-sensitive display system 712 when themultifunction device is placed near the user's ear (e.g., when the useris making a phone call).

Device 700 optionally also includes one or more tactile outputgenerators 763. FIG. 7 shows a tactile output generator coupled withhaptic feedback controller 761 in I/O subsystem 706. Tactile outputgenerator(s) 763 optionally include one or more electroacoustic devicessuch as speakers or other audio components and/or electromechanicaldevices that convert energy into linear motion such as a motor,solenoid, electroactive polymer, piezoelectric actuator, electrostaticactuator, or other tactile output generating component (e.g., acomponent that converts electrical signals into tactile outputs on thedevice). Tactile output generator(s) 763 receive tactile feedbackgeneration instructions from haptic feedback module 733 and generatestactile outputs on device 700 that are capable of being sensed by a userof device 700. In some embodiments, at least one tactile outputgenerator is collocated with, or proximate to, a touch-sensitive surface(e.g., touch-sensitive display system 712) and, optionally, generates atactile output by moving the touch-sensitive surface vertically (e.g.,in/out of a surface of device 700) or laterally (e.g., back and forth inthe same plane as a surface of device 700). In some embodiments, atleast one tactile output generator sensor is located on the back ofdevice 700, opposite touch-sensitive display system 712, which islocated on the front of device 700.

Device 700 optionally also includes one or more accelerometers 767,gyroscopes 768, and/or magnetometers 769 (e.g., as part of an inertialmeasurement unit (IMU)) for obtaining information concerning theposition (e.g., attitude) of the device. FIG. 7 shows sensors 767, 768,and 769 coupled with peripherals interface 718. Alternately, sensors767, 768, and 769 are, optionally, coupled with an input controller 760in I/O subsystem 706. In some embodiments, information is displayed onthe touch-screen display in a portrait view or a landscape view based onan analysis of data received from the one or more accelerometers. Device700 optionally includes a GPS (or GLONASS or other global navigationsystem) receiver (not shown) for obtaining information concerning thelocation of device 700.

In some embodiments, the software components stored in memory 702include operating system 726, communication module (or set ofinstructions) 728, contact/motion module (or set of instructions) 730,position module (or set of instructions) 731, graphics module (or set ofinstructions) 732, haptic feedback module (or set of instructions) 733,text input module (or set of instructions) 734, Global PositioningSystem (GPS) module (or set of instructions) 735, and applications (orsets of instructions) 736. Furthermore, in some embodiments, memory 702stores device/global internal state 719, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 3.Device/global internal state 719 includes one or more of: activeapplication state, indicating which applications, if any, are currentlyactive; display state, indicating what applications, views or otherinformation occupy various regions of touch-sensitive display system712; sensor state, including information obtained from the device'svarious sensors and other input or control devices 716; and locationand/or positional information concerning the device's location and/orattitude.

Operating system 726 (e.g., iOS, Darwin, RTXC, LINUX, UNIX, OS X,WINDOWS, or an embedded operating system such as VxWorks) includesvarious software components and/or drivers for controlling and managinggeneral system tasks (e.g., memory management, storage device control,power management, etc.) and facilitates communication between varioushardware and software components.

Communication module 728 facilitates communication with other devicesover one or more external ports 724 and also includes various softwarecomponents for handling data received by RF circuitry 708 and/orexternal port 724. External port 724 (e.g., Universal Serial Bus (USB),FIREWIRE, etc.) is adapted for coupling directly to other devices orindirectly over a network (e.g., the Internet, wireless LAN, etc.). Insome embodiments, the external port is a multi-pin (e.g., 30-pin)connector that is the same as, or similar to and/or compatible with the30-pin connector used in some iPhone®, iPod Touch®, and iPad® devicesfrom Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. In some embodiments, the externalport is a Lightning connector that is the same as, or similar to and/orcompatible with the Lightning connector used in some iPhone®, iPodTouch®, and iPad® devices from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.

Contact/motion module 730 optionally detects contact withtouch-sensitive display system 712 (in conjunction with displaycontroller 756) and other touch-sensitive devices (e.g., a touchpad orphysical click wheel). Contact/motion module 730 includes softwarecomponents for performing various operations related to detection ofcontact (e.g., by a finger or by a stylus), such as determining ifcontact has occurred (e.g., detecting a finger-down event), determiningan intensity of the contact (e.g., the force or pressure of the contactor a substitute for the force or pressure of the contact), determiningif there is movement of the contact and tracking the movement across thetouch-sensitive surface (e.g., detecting one or more finger-draggingevents), and determining if the contact has ceased (e.g., detecting afinger-up event or a break in contact). Contact/motion module 730receives contact data from the touch-sensitive surface. Determiningmovement of the point of contact, which is represented by a series ofcontact data, optionally includes determining speed (magnitude),velocity (magnitude and direction), and/or an acceleration (a change inmagnitude and/or direction) of the point of contact. These operationsare, optionally, applied to single contacts (e.g., one finger contactsor stylus contacts) or to multiple simultaneous contacts (e.g.,“multitouch”/multiple finger contacts and/or stylus contacts). In someembodiments, contact/motion module 730 and display controller 756 detectcontact on a touchpad.

Contact/motion module 730 optionally detects a gesture input by a user.Different gestures on the touch-sensitive surface have different contactpatterns (e.g., different motions, timings, and/or intensities ofdetected contacts). Thus, a gesture is, optionally, detected bydetecting a particular contact pattern. For example, detecting a fingertap gesture includes detecting a finger-down event followed by detectinga finger-up (lift off) event at the same position (or substantially thesame position) as the finger-down event (e.g., at the position of anicon). As another example, detecting a finger swipe gesture on thetouch-sensitive surface includes detecting a finger-down event followedby detecting one or more finger-dragging events, and subsequentlyfollowed by detecting a finger-up (lift off) event. Similarly, tap,swipe, drag, and other gestures are optionally detected for a stylus bydetecting a particular contact pattern for the stylus.

Position module 731, in conjunction with accelerometers 767, gyroscopes768, and/or magnetometers 769, optionally detects positional informationconcerning the device, such as the device's attitude (roll, pitch,and/or yaw) in a particular frame of reference. Position module 730includes software components for performing various operations relatedto detecting the position of the device and detecting changes to theposition of the device. In some embodiments, position module 731 usesinformation received from a stylus being used with the device to detectpositional information concerning the stylus, such as detecting thepositional state of the stylus relative to the device and detectingchanges to the positional state of the stylus.

Graphics module 732 includes various known software components forrendering and displaying graphics on touch-sensitive display system 712or other display, including components for changing the visual impact(e.g., brightness, transparency, saturation, contrast or other visualproperty) of graphics that are displayed. As used herein, the term“graphics” includes any object that can be displayed to a user,including without limitation text, web pages, icons (such asuser-interface objects including soft keys), digital images, videos,animations and the like.

In some embodiments, graphics module 732 stores data representinggraphics to be used. Each graphic is, optionally, assigned acorresponding code. Graphics module 732 receives, from applicationsetc., one or more codes specifying graphics to be displayed along with,if necessary, coordinate data and other graphic property data, and thengenerates screen image data to output to display controller 756.

Haptic feedback module 733 includes various software components forgenerating instructions used by tactile output generator(s) 763 toproduce tactile outputs at one or more locations on device 700 inresponse to user interactions with device 700 or in response toinformation received by device 700.

Text input module 734, which is, optionally, a component of graphicsmodule 732, provides soft keyboards for entering text in variousapplications (e.g., contacts 737, e-mail 740, IM 741, browser 747, andany other application that needs text input).

GPS module 735 determines the location of the device and provides thisinformation for use in various applications (e.g., to telephone 738 foruse in location-based dialing, to camera 743 as picture/video metadata,and to applications that provide location-based services such as weatherwidgets, local yellow page widgets, and map/navigation widgets).

Applications 736 optionally include the following modules (or sets ofinstructions), or a subset or superset thereof: contacts module 715(sometimes called an address book or contact list); telephone module738; video conferencing module 739; e-mail client module 740; instantmessaging (IM) module 741; workout support module 742; camera module 743for still and/or video images; image management module 744; browsermodule 721; calendar module 748; widget modules 749, which optionallyinclude one or more of: weather widget 749-1, stocks widget 749-2,calculator widget 749-3, alarm clock widget 749-4, dictionary widget749-5, and other widgets obtained by the user, as well as user-createdwidgets 749-6; widget creator module 750 for making user-created widgets749-6; search module 751; video and music player module 752, which is,optionally, made up of a video player module and a music player module;notes module 753; map module 754; and/or online video module 755.

Examples of other applications 736 that are, optionally, stored inmemory 702 include other word processing applications, other imageediting applications, drawing applications, presentation applications,JAVA-enabled applications, encryption, digital rights management, voicerecognition, and voice replication.

In conjunction with touch-sensitive display system 712, displaycontroller 756, contact module 730, graphics module 732, and text inputmodule 734, contacts module 715 includes executable instructions tomanage an address book or contact list (e.g., stored in applicationinternal state 792 of contacts module 715 in memory 702 or memory 370),including: adding name(s) to the address book; deleting name(s) from theaddress book; associating telephone number(s), e-mail address(es),physical address(es) or other information with a name; associating animage with a name; categorizing and sorting names; providing telephonenumbers and/or e-mail addresses to initiate and/or facilitatecommunications by telephone 738, video conference 739, e-mail 740, or IM741; and so forth.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 708, audio circuitry 710, speaker 711,microphone 713, touch-sensitive display system 712, display controller756, contact module 730, graphics module 732, and text input module 734,telephone module 738 includes executable instructions to enter asequence of characters corresponding to a telephone number, access oneor more telephone numbers in address book 737, modify a telephone numberthat has been entered, dial a respective telephone number, conduct aconversation and disconnect or hang up when the conversation iscompleted. As noted above, the wireless communication optionally usesany of a plurality of communications standards, protocols andtechnologies.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 708, audio circuitry 710, speaker 711,microphone 713, touch-sensitive display system 712, display controller756, optical sensor(s) 764, optical sensor controller 758, contactmodule 730, graphics module 732, text input module 734, contact list737, and telephone module 738, videoconferencing module 739 includesexecutable instructions to initiate, conduct, and terminate a videoconference between a user and one or more other participants inaccordance with user instructions.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 708, touch-sensitive display system712, display controller 756, contact module 730, graphics module 732,and text input module 734, e-mail client module 740 includes executableinstructions to create, send, receive, and manage e-mail in response touser instructions. In conjunction with image management module 744,e-mail client module 740 makes it very easy to create and send e-mailswith still or video images taken with camera module 743.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 708, touch-sensitive display system712, display controller 756, contact module 730, graphics module 732,and text input module 734, the instant messaging module 741 includesexecutable instructions to enter a sequence of characters correspondingto an instant message, to modify previously entered characters, totransmit a respective instant message (for example, using a ShortMessage Service (SMS) or Multimedia Message Service (MMS) protocol fortelephony-based instant messages or using XMPP, SIMPLE, Apple PushNotification Service (APNs) or IMPS for Internet-based instantmessages), to receive instant messages and to view received instantmessages. In some embodiments, transmitted and/or received instantmessages optionally include graphics, photos, audio files, video filesand/or other attachments as are supported in a MMS and/or an EnhancedMessaging Service (EMS). As used herein, “instant messaging” refers toboth telephony-based messages (e.g., messages sent using SMS or MMS) andInternet-based messages (e.g., messages sent using XMPP, SIMPLE, APNs,or IMPS).

In conjunction with RF circuitry 708, touch-sensitive display system712, display controller 756, contact module 730, graphics module 732,text input module 734, GPS module 735, map module 754, and music playermodule 746, workout support module 742 includes executable instructionsto create workouts (e.g., with time, distance, and/or calorie burninggoals); communicate with workout sensors (in sports devices and smartwatches); receive workout sensor data; calibrate sensors used to monitora workout; select and play music for a workout; and display, store andtransmit workout data.

In conjunction with touch-sensitive display system 712, displaycontroller 756, optical sensor(s) 764, optical sensor controller 758,contact module 730, graphics module 732, and image management module744, camera module 743 includes executable instructions to capture stillimages or video (including a video stream) and store them into memory702, modify characteristics of a still image or video, and/or delete astill image or video from memory 702.

In conjunction with touch-sensitive display system 712, displaycontroller 756, contact module 730, graphics module 732, text inputmodule 734, and camera module 743, image management module 744 includesexecutable instructions to arrange, modify (e.g., edit), or otherwisemanipulate, label, delete, present (e.g., in a digital slide show oralbum), and store still and/or video images.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 708, touch-sensitive display system712, display system controller 756, contact module 730, graphics module732, and text input module 734, browser module 721 includes executableinstructions to browse the Internet in accordance with userinstructions, including searching, linking to, receiving, and displayingweb pages or portions thereof, as well as attachments and other fileslinked to web pages.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 708, touch-sensitive display system712, display system controller 756, contact module 730, graphics module732, text input module 734, e-mail client module 740, and browser module721, calendar module 748 includes executable instructions to create,display, modify, and store calendars and data associated with calendars(e.g., calendar entries, to do lists, etc.) in accordance with userinstructions.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 708, touch-sensitive display system712, display system controller 756, contact module 730, graphics module732, text input module 734, and browser module 721, widget modules 749are mini-applications that are, optionally, downloaded and used by auser (e.g., weather widget 749-1, stocks widget 749-2, calculator widget749-3, alarm clock widget 749-4, and dictionary widget 749-5) or createdby the user (e.g., user-created widget 749-6). In some embodiments, awidget includes an HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) file, a CSS(Cascading Style Sheets) file, and a JavaScript file. In someembodiments, a widget includes an XML (Extensible Markup Language) fileand a JavaScript file (e.g., Yahoo! Widgets).

In conjunction with RF circuitry 708, touch-sensitive display system712, display system controller 756, contact module 730, graphics module732, text input module 734, and browser module 721, the widget creatormodule 750 includes executable instructions to create widgets (e.g.,turning a user-specified portion of a web page into a widget).

In conjunction with touch-sensitive display system 712, display systemcontroller 756, contact module 730, graphics module 732, and text inputmodule 734, search module 751 includes executable instructions to searchfor text, music, sound, image, video, and/or other files in memory 702that match one or more search criteria (e.g., one or more user-specifiedsearch terms) in accordance with user instructions.

In conjunction with touch-sensitive display system 712, display systemcontroller 756, contact module 730, graphics module 732, audio circuitry710, speaker 711, RF circuitry 708, and browser module 721, video andmusic player module 752 includes executable instructions that allow theuser to download and play back recorded music and other sound filesstored in one or more file formats, such as MP3 or AAC files, andexecutable instructions to display, present or otherwise play backvideos (e.g., on touch-sensitive display system 712, or on an externaldisplay connected wirelessly or via external port 724). In someembodiments, device 700 optionally includes the functionality of an MP3player, such as an iPod (trademark of Apple Inc.).

In conjunction with touch-sensitive display system 712, displaycontroller 756, contact module 730, graphics module 732, and text inputmodule 734, notes module 753 includes executable instructions to createand manage notes, to do lists, and the like in accordance with userinstructions.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 708, touch-sensitive display system712, display system controller 756, contact module 730, graphics module732, text input module 734, GPS module 735, and browser module 721, mapmodule 754 includes executable instructions to receive, display, modify,and store maps and data associated with maps (e.g., driving directions;data on stores and other points of interest at or near a particularlocation; and other location-based data) in accordance with userinstructions.

In conjunction with touch-sensitive display system 712, display systemcontroller 756, contact module 730, graphics module 732, audio circuitry710, speaker 711, RF circuitry 708, text input module 734, e-mail clientmodule 740, and browser module 721, online video module 755 includesexecutable instructions that allow the user to access, browse, receive(e.g., by streaming and/or download), play back (e.g., on the touchscreen 712, or on an external display connected wirelessly or viaexternal port 724), send an e-mail with a link to a particular onlinevideo, and otherwise manage online videos in one or more file formats,such as H.264. In some embodiments, instant messaging module 741, ratherthan e-mail client module 740, is used to send a link to a particularonline video.

Each of the above identified modules and applications correspond to aset of executable instructions for performing one or more functionsdescribed above and the methods described in this application (e.g., thecomputer-implemented methods and other information processing methodsdescribed herein). These modules (i.e., sets of instructions) need notbe implemented as separate software programs, procedures or modules, andthus various subsets of these modules are, optionally, combined orotherwise re-arranged in various embodiments. In some embodiments,memory 702 optionally stores a subset of the modules and data structuresidentified above. Furthermore, memory 702 optionally stores additionalmodules and data structures not described above.

In some embodiments, device 700 is a device where operation of apredefined set of functions on the device is performed exclusivelythrough a touch screen and/or a touchpad. By using a touch screen and/ora touchpad as the primary input control device for operation of device700, the number of physical input control devices (such as push buttons,dials, and the like) on device 700 is, optionally, reduced.

The predefined set of functions that are performed exclusively through atouch screen and/or a touchpad optionally include navigation betweenuser interfaces. In some embodiments, the touchpad, when touched by theuser, navigates device 700 to a main, home, or root menu from any userinterface that is displayed on device 700. In such embodiments, a “menubutton” is implemented using a touchpad. In some other embodiments, themenu button is a physical push button or other physical input controldevice instead of a touchpad.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating exemplary components for eventhandling in accordance with some embodiments. In some embodiments,memory 702 (in FIG. 7) includes event sorter 770 (e.g., in operatingsystem 726) and a respective application 736-1 (e.g., any of theaforementioned applications 736, 737-755).

Event sorter 770 receives event information and determines theapplication 736-1 and application view 791 of application 736-1 to whichto deliver the event information. Event sorter 770 includes eventmonitor 771 and event dispatcher module 774. In some embodiments,application 736-1 includes application internal state 792, whichindicates the current application view(s) displayed on touch-sensitivedisplay system 712 when the application is active or executing. In someembodiments, device/global internal state 719 is used by event sorter770 to determine which application(s) is (are) currently active, andapplication internal state 792 is used by event sorter 770 to determineapplication views 791 to which to deliver event information.

In some embodiments, application internal state 792 includes additionalinformation, such as one or more of: resume information to be used whenapplication 736-1 resumes execution, user interface state informationthat indicates information being displayed or that is ready for displayby application 736-1, a state queue for enabling the user to go back toa prior state or view of application 736-1, and a redo/undo queue ofprevious actions taken by the user.

Event monitor 771 receives event information from peripherals interface718. Event information includes information about a sub-event (e.g., auser touch on touch-sensitive display system 712, as part of amulti-touch gesture). Peripherals interface 718 transmits information itreceives from I/O subsystem 706 or a sensor, such as proximity sensor766, accelerometer(s) 767, gyroscope(s) 768, magnetometer(s) 769, and/ormicrophone 713 (through audio circuitry 710). Information thatperipherals interface 718 receives from I/O subsystem 706 includesinformation from touch-sensitive display system 712 or a touch-sensitivesurface.

In some embodiments, event monitor 771 sends requests to the peripheralsinterface 718 at predetermined intervals. In response, peripheralsinterface 718 transmits event information. In other embodiments,peripheral interface 718 transmits event information only when there isa significant event (e.g., receiving an input above a predeterminednoise threshold and/or for more than a predetermined duration).

In some embodiments, event sorter 770 also includes a hit viewdetermination module 772 and/or an active event recognizer determinationmodule 773.

Hit view determination module 772 provides software procedures fordetermining where a sub-event has taken place within one or more views,when touch-sensitive display system 712 displays more than one view.Views are made up of controls and other elements that a user can see onthe display.

Another aspect of the user interface associated with an application is aset of views, sometimes herein called application views or userinterface windows, in which information is displayed and touch-basedgestures occur. The application views (of a respective application) inwhich a touch is detected optionally correspond to programmatic levelswithin a programmatic or view hierarchy of the application. For example,the lowest level view in which a touch is detected is, optionally,called the hit view, and the set of events that are recognized as properinputs are, optionally, determined based, at least in part, on the hitview of the initial touch that begins a touch-based gesture.

Hit view determination module 772 receives information related tosub-events of a touch-based gesture. When an application has multipleviews organized in a hierarchy, hit view determination module 772identifies a hit view as the lowest view in the hierarchy which shouldhandle the sub-event. In most circumstances, the hit view is the lowestlevel view in which an initiating sub-event occurs (i.e., the firstsub-event in the sequence of sub-events that form an event or potentialevent). Once the hit view is identified by the hit view determinationmodule, the hit view typically receives all sub-events related to thesame touch or input source for which it was identified as the hit view.

Active event recognizer determination module 773 determines which viewor views within a view hierarchy should receive a particular sequence ofsub-events. In some embodiments, active event recognizer determinationmodule 773 determines that only the hit view should receive a particularsequence of sub-events. In other embodiments, active event recognizerdetermination module 773 determines that all views that include thephysical location of a sub-event are actively involved views, andtherefore determines that all actively involved views should receive aparticular sequence of sub-events. In other embodiments, even if touchsub-events were entirely confined to the area associated with oneparticular view, views higher in the hierarchy would still remain asactively involved views.

Event dispatcher module 774 dispatches the event information to an eventrecognizer (e.g., event recognizer 780). In embodiments including activeevent recognizer determination module 773, event dispatcher module 774delivers the event information to an event recognizer determined byactive event recognizer determination module 773. In some embodiments,event dispatcher module 774 stores in an event queue the eventinformation, which is retrieved by a respective event receiver module782.

In some embodiments, operating system 726 includes event sorter 770.Alternatively, application 736-1 includes event sorter 770. In yet otherembodiments, event sorter 770 is a stand-alone module, or a part ofanother module stored in memory 702, such as contact/motion module 730.

In some embodiments, application 736-1 includes a plurality of eventhandlers 790 and one or more application views 791, each of whichincludes instructions for handling touch events that occur within arespective view of the application's user interface. Each applicationview 791 of the application 736-1 includes one or more event recognizers780. Typically, a respective application view 791 includes a pluralityof event recognizers 780. In other embodiments, one or more of eventrecognizers 780 are part of a separate module, such as a user interfacekit (not shown) or a higher level object from which application 736-1inherits methods and other properties. In some embodiments, a respectiveevent handler 790 includes one or more of: data updater 776, objectupdater 777, GUI updater 778, and/or event data 779 received from eventsorter 770. Event handler 790 optionally utilizes or calls data updater776, object updater 777 or GUI updater 778 to update the applicationinternal state 792. Alternatively, one or more of the application views791 includes one or more respective event handlers 790. Also, in someembodiments, one or more of data updater 776, object updater 777, andGUI updater 778 are included in a respective application view 791.

A respective event recognizer 780 receives event information (e.g.,event data 779) from event sorter 770, and identifies an event from theevent information. Event recognizer 780 includes event receiver 782 andevent comparator 784. In some embodiments, event recognizer 780 alsoincludes at least a subset of: metadata 783, and event deliveryinstructions 788 (which optionally include sub-event deliveryinstructions).

Event receiver 782 receives event information from event sorter 770. Theevent information includes information about a sub-event, for example, atouch or a touch movement. Depending on the sub-event, the eventinformation also includes additional information, such as location ofthe sub-event. When the sub-event concerns motion of a touch, the eventinformation optionally also includes speed and direction of thesub-event. In some embodiments, events include rotation of the devicefrom one orientation to another (e.g., from a portrait orientation to alandscape orientation, or vice versa), and the event informationincludes corresponding information about the current orientation (alsocalled device attitude) of the device.

Event comparator 784 compares the event information to predefined eventor sub-event definitions and, based on the comparison, determines anevent or sub-event, or determines or updates the state of an event orsub-event. In some embodiments, event comparator 784 includes eventdefinitions 786. Event definitions 786 contain definitions of events(e.g., predefined sequences of sub-events), for example, event 1(787-1), event 2 (787-2), and others. In some embodiments, sub-events inan event 787 include, for example, touch begin, touch end, touchmovement, touch cancellation, and multiple touching. In one example, thedefinition for event 1 (787-1) is a double tap on a displayed object.The double tap, for example, comprises a first touch (touch begin) onthe displayed object for a predetermined phase, a first lift-off (touchend) for a predetermined phase, a second touch (touch begin) on thedisplayed object for a predetermined phase, and a second lift-off (touchend) for a predetermined phase. In another example, the definition forevent 2 (787-2) is a dragging on a displayed object. The dragging, forexample, comprises a touch (or contact) on the displayed object for apredetermined phase, a movement of the touch across touch-sensitivedisplay system 712, and lift-off of the touch (touch end). In someembodiments, the event also includes information for one or moreassociated event handlers 790.

In some embodiments, event definition 787 includes a definition of anevent for a respective user-interface object. In some embodiments, eventcomparator 784 performs a hit test to determine which user-interfaceobject is associated with a sub-event. For example, in an applicationview in which three user-interface objects are displayed ontouch-sensitive display system 712, when a touch is detected ontouch-sensitive display system 712, event comparator 784 performs a hittest to determine which of the three user-interface objects isassociated with the touch (sub-event). If each displayed object isassociated with a respective event handler 790, the event comparatoruses the result of the hit test to determine which event handler 790should be activated. For example, event comparator 784 selects an eventhandler associated with the sub-event and the object triggering the hittest.

In some embodiments, the definition for a respective event 787 alsoincludes delayed actions that delay delivery of the event informationuntil after it has been determined whether the sequence of sub-eventsdoes or does not correspond to the event recognizer's event type.

When a respective event recognizer 780 determines that the series ofsub-events do not match any of the events in event definitions 786, therespective event recognizer 780 enters an event impossible, eventfailed, or event ended state, after which it disregards subsequentsub-events of the touch-based gesture. In this situation, other eventrecognizers, if any, that remain active for the hit view continue totrack and process sub-events of an ongoing touch-based gesture.

In some embodiments, a respective event recognizer 780 includes metadata783 with configurable properties, flags, and/or lists that indicate howthe event delivery system should perform sub-event delivery to activelyinvolved event recognizers. In some embodiments, metadata 783 includesconfigurable properties, flags, and/or lists that indicate how eventrecognizers interact, or are enabled to interact, with one another. Insome embodiments, metadata 783 includes configurable properties, flags,and/or lists that indicate whether sub-events are delivered to varyinglevels in the view or programmatic hierarchy.

In some embodiments, a respective event recognizer 780 activates eventhandler 790 associated with an event when one or more particularsub-events of an event are recognized. In some embodiments, a respectiveevent recognizer 780 delivers event information associated with theevent to event handler 790. Activating an event handler 790 is distinctfrom sending (and deferred sending) sub-events to a respective hit view.In some embodiments, event recognizer 780 throws a flag associated withthe recognized event, and event handler 790 associated with the flagcatches the flag and performs a predefined process.

In some embodiments, event delivery instructions 788 include sub-eventdelivery instructions that deliver event information about a sub-eventwithout activating an event handler. Instead, the sub-event deliveryinstructions deliver event information to event handlers associated withthe series of sub-events or to actively involved views. Event handlersassociated with the series of sub-events or with actively involved viewsreceive the event information and perform a predetermined process.

In some embodiments, data updater 776 creates and updates data used inapplication 736-1. For example, data updater 776 updates the telephonenumber used in contacts module 715, or stores a video file used in videoplayer module 745. In some embodiments, object updater 777 creates andupdates objects used in application 736-1. For example, object updater776 creates a new user-interface object or updates the position of auser-interface object. GUI updater 778 updates the GUI. For example, GUIupdater 778 prepares display information and sends it to graphics module732 for display on a touch-sensitive display.

In some embodiments, event handler(s) 790 includes or has access to dataupdater 776, object updater 777, and GUI updater 778. In someembodiments, data updater 776, object updater 777, and GUI updater 778are included in a single module of a respective application 736-1 orapplication view 791. In other embodiments, they are included in two ormore software modules.

It shall be understood that the foregoing discussion regarding eventhandling of user touches on touch-sensitive displays also applies toother forms of user inputs to operate multifunction devices 700 withinput-devices, not all of which are initiated on touch screens. Forexample, mouse movement and mouse button presses, optionally coordinatedwith single or multiple keyboard presses or holds; contact movementssuch as taps, drags, scrolls, etc., on touch-pads; pen stylus inputs;movement of the device; oral instructions; detected eye movements;biometric inputs; and/or any combination thereof are optionally utilizedas inputs corresponding to sub-events which define an event to berecognized.

Device 700 optionally also includes one or more physical buttons, suchas “home” or menu button 204. As described previously, menu button 204is, optionally, used to navigate to any application 736 in a set ofapplications that are, optionally executed on device 700. Alternatively,in some embodiments, the menu button is implemented as a soft key in aGUI displayed on the touch-screen display.

In some embodiments, device 700 includes the touch-screen display, menubutton 204, push button 206 for powering the device on/off and lockingthe device, volume adjustment button(s) 208, Subscriber Identity Module(SIM) card slot 210, head set jack 212, and docking/charging externalport 724. Push button 206 is, optionally, used to turn the power on/offon the device by depressing the button and holding the button in thedepressed state for a predefined time interval; to lock the device bydepressing the button and releasing the button before the predefinedtime interval has elapsed; and/or to unlock the device or initiate anunlock process. In some embodiments, device 700 also accepts verbalinput for activation or deactivation of some functions throughmicrophone 713. Device 700 also, optionally, includes one or morecontact intensity sensors 765 for detecting intensity of contacts ontouch-sensitive display system 712 and/or one or more tactile outputgenerators 763 for generating tactile outputs for a user of device 700.

FIG. 9 illustrates a system 900 in accordance with embodiments of thepresent invention. A ring computing device 902, in accordance withembodiments described therein, communicates with an external electronicdevice 904. In this embodiment, the external electronic device is adisplay screen displaying a pointer 906; any type of external electronicdevice is within the scope of the present invention, however, and maybe, but is not limited to a smart television, laptop computer, desktopcomputer, tablet computer, smart watch, automobile audio system, home,work, or environment automation device, or any other such device orsystem. Similarly, the screen element need not be a pointer 906, but maybe any displayed user interface element, such as a cursor, slider, orbutton, or may be an undisplayed user interface element, such as avolume control. The ring computing device 902 communicates with theexternal electronic device 904 via a wireless link 908, which may be aWI-FI, BLUETOOTH, NFC, or any other type of wireless link. The link may908 may be uni-directional (i.e., the ring computing device may onlysend or receive data or commands to the external electronic device) orbi-directional (i.e., the ring computing device may both send andreceive data or commands to the external electronic device). The natureof the link 908 may vary over time, and it may be uni-directional at onepoint in time and bi-directional at a second point in time. The ringcomputing device 902 may control multiple external electronic devices904 either simultaneously or individually.

FIG. 10 illustrates a system 1000 in accordance with embodiments of thepresent invention. The system 1000 includes an external electronicdevice 1002 that has two application windows 1004, 1006, each featuringa pointer 1008, 1010. The application windows 1004, 1006 may correspondto two different applications running on the external electronic device1002 or two windows of the same application. One application may be, forexample, a video player, and the second may be a web browser. Two ringcomputing devices 1012, 1014 may be used by the same or different usersto each control one pointer 1008, 1010 over wireless links 1016, 1018.The wireless links 1016, 1018 may be separate links or they may sharethe same link (e.g., a single BLUETOOTH channel). Two ring computingdevices 1012, 1014 may also control UI elements on a single window by asingle user (e.g. multi-device control video games).

Attention is now directed towards embodiments of user interfaces (“UIs”)that are, optionally, implemented on ring computing device 700.

As used in the specification and claims, the term “intensity” of acontact on a touch-sensitive surface refers to the force or pressure(force per unit area) of a contact (e.g., a finger contact or a styluscontact) on the touch-sensitive surface, or to a substitute (proxy) forthe force or pressure of a contact on the touch-sensitive surface. Theintensity of a contact has a range of values that includes at least fourdistinct values and more typically includes hundreds of distinct values(e.g., at least 256). Intensity of a contact is, optionally, determined(or measured) using various approaches and various sensors orcombinations of sensors. For example, one or more force sensorsunderneath or adjacent to the touch-sensitive surface are, optionally,used to measure force at various points on the touch-sensitive surface.In some implementations, force measurements from multiple force sensorsare combined (e.g., a weighted average or a sum) to determine anestimated force of a contact. Similarly, a pressure-sensitive tip of astylus is, optionally, used to determine a pressure of the stylus on thetouch-sensitive surface. Alternatively, the size of the contact areadetected on the touch-sensitive surface and/or changes thereto, thecapacitance of the touch-sensitive surface proximate to the contactand/or changes thereto, and/or the resistance of the touch-sensitivesurface proximate to the contact and/or changes thereto are, optionally,used as a substitute for the force or pressure of the contact on thetouch-sensitive surface. In some implementations, the substitutemeasurements for contact force or pressure are used directly todetermine whether an intensity threshold has been exceeded (e.g., theintensity threshold is described in units corresponding to thesubstitute measurements). In some implementations, the substitutemeasurements for contact force or pressure are converted to an estimatedforce or pressure and the estimated force or pressure is used todetermine whether an intensity threshold has been exceeded (e.g., theintensity threshold is a pressure threshold measured in units ofpressure). Using the intensity of a contact as an attribute of a userinput allows for user access to additional device functionality that mayotherwise not be readily accessible by the user on a reduced-size devicewith limited real estate for displaying affordances (e.g., on atouch-sensitive display) and/or receiving user input (e.g., via atouch-sensitive display, a touch-sensitive surface, or aphysical/mechanical control such as a knob or a button).

In some embodiments, contact/motion module 730 and/or 430 uses a set ofone or more intensity thresholds to determine whether an operation hasbeen performed by a user (e.g., to determine whether a user has“clicked” on an icon). In some embodiments, at least a subset of theintensity thresholds are determined in accordance with softwareparameters (e.g., the intensity thresholds are not determined by theactivation thresholds of particular physical actuators and can beadjusted without changing the physical hardware of device 700). Forexample, a mouse “click” threshold of a trackpad or touch-screen displaycan be set to any of a large range of predefined thresholds valueswithout changing the trackpad or touch-screen display hardware.Additionally, in some embodiments, a user of the device is provided withsoftware settings for adjusting one or more of the set of intensitythresholds (e.g., by adjusting individual intensity thresholds and/or byadjusting a plurality of intensity thresholds at once with asystem-level click “intensity” parameter).

As used in the specification and claims, the term “characteristicintensity” of a contact refers to a characteristic of the contact basedon one or more intensities of the contact. In some embodiments, thecharacteristic intensity is based on multiple intensity samples. Thecharacteristic intensity is, optionally, based on a predefined number ofintensity samples, or a set of intensity samples collected during apredetermined time period (e.g., 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10seconds) relative to a predefined event (e.g., after detecting thecontact, prior to detecting liftoff of the contact, before or afterdetecting a start of movement of the contact, prior to detecting an endof the contact, before or after detecting an increase in intensity ofthe contact, and/or before or after detecting a decrease in intensity ofthe contact). A characteristic intensity of a contact is, optionallybased on one or more of: a maximum value of the intensities of thecontact, a mean value of the intensities of the contact, an averagevalue of the intensities of the contact, a top 10 percentile value ofthe intensities of the contact, a value at the half maximum of theintensities of the contact, a value at the 90 percent maximum of theintensities of the contact, or the like. In some embodiments, theduration of the contact is used in determining the characteristicintensity (e.g., when the characteristic intensity is an average of theintensity of the contact over time). In some embodiments, thecharacteristic intensity is compared to a set of one or more intensitythresholds to determine whether an operation has been performed by auser. For example, the set of one or more intensity thresholds mayinclude a first intensity threshold and a second intensity threshold. Inthis example, a contact with a characteristic intensity that does notexceed the first threshold results in a first operation, a contact witha characteristic intensity that exceeds the first intensity thresholdand does not exceed the second intensity threshold results in a secondoperation, and a contact with a characteristic intensity that exceedsthe second intensity threshold results in a third operation. In someembodiments, a comparison between the characteristic intensity and oneor more intensity thresholds is used to determine whether or not toperform one or more operations (e.g., whether to perform a respectiveoption or forgo performing the respective operation) rather than beingused to determine whether to perform a first operation or a secondoperation.

In some embodiments, a portion of a gesture is identified for purposesof determining a characteristic intensity. For example, atouch-sensitive surface may receive a continuous swipe contacttransitioning from a start location and reaching an end location (e.g.,a drag gesture), at which point the intensity of the contact increases.In this example, the characteristic intensity of the contact at the endlocation may be based on only a portion of the continuous swipe contact,and not the entire swipe contact (e.g., only the portion of the swipecontact at the end location). In some embodiments, a smoothing algorithmmay be applied to the intensities of the swipe contact prior todetermining the characteristic intensity of the contact. For example,the smoothing algorithm optionally includes one or more of: anunweighted sliding-average smoothing algorithm, a triangular smoothingalgorithm, a median filter smoothing algorithm, and/or an exponentialsmoothing algorithm. In some circumstances, these smoothing algorithmseliminate narrow spikes or dips in the intensities of the swipe contactfor purposes of determining a characteristic intensity.

In some embodiments, the response of the device to inputs detected bythe device depends on criteria based on the contact intensity during theinput. For example, for some “light press” inputs, the intensity of acontact exceeding a first intensity threshold during the input triggersa first response. In some embodiments, the response of the device toinputs detected by the device depends on criteria that include both thecontact intensity during the input and time-based criteria. For example,for some “deep press” inputs, the intensity of a contact exceeding asecond intensity threshold during the input, greater than the firstintensity threshold for a light press, triggers a second response onlyif a delay time has elapsed between meeting the first intensitythreshold and meeting the second intensity threshold. This delay time istypically less than 200 ms in duration (e.g., 40, 700, or 720 ms,depending on the magnitude of the second intensity threshold, with thedelay time increasing as the second intensity threshold increases). Thisdelay time helps to avoid accidental deep press inputs. As anotherexample, for some “deep press” inputs, there is a reduced-sensitivitytime period that occurs after the time at which the first intensitythreshold is met. During the reduced-sensitivity time period, the secondintensity threshold is increased. This temporary increase in the secondintensity threshold also helps to avoid accidental deep press inputs.For other deep press inputs, the response to detection of a deep pressinput does not depend on time-based criteria.

In some embodiments, one or more of the input intensity thresholdsand/or the corresponding outputs vary based on one or more factors, suchas user settings, contact motion, input timing, application running,rate at which the intensity is applied, number of concurrent inputs,user history, environmental factors (e.g., ambient noise), focusselector position, and the like. Exemplary factors are described in U.S.patent application Ser. Nos. 14/399,606 and 14/624,296, which areincorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

An increase of characteristic intensity of the contact from an intensitybelow the light press intensity threshold IT_(L) to an intensity betweenthe light press intensity threshold IT_(L) and the deep press intensitythreshold IT_(D) is sometimes referred to as a “light press” input. Anincrease of characteristic intensity of the contact from an intensitybelow the deep press intensity threshold IT_(D) to an intensity abovethe deep press intensity threshold IT_(D) is sometimes referred to as a“deep press” input. An increase of characteristic intensity of thecontact from an intensity below the contact-detection intensitythreshold IT₀ to an intensity between the contact-detection intensitythreshold IT₀ and the light press intensity threshold IT_(L) issometimes referred to as detecting the contact on the touch-surface. Adecrease of characteristic intensity of the contact from an intensityabove the contact-detection intensity threshold IT₀ to an intensitybelow the contact-detection intensity threshold IT₀ is sometimesreferred to as detecting liftoff of the contact from the touch-surface.In some embodiments IT₀ is zero. In some embodiments, IT₀ is greaterthan zero. In some illustrations a shaded circle or oval is used torepresent intensity of a contact on the touch-sensitive surface. In someillustrations, a circle or oval without shading is used represent arespective contact on the touch-sensitive surface without specifying theintensity of the respective contact.

In some embodiments, described herein, one or more operations areperformed in response to detecting a gesture that includes a respectivepress input or in response to detecting the respective press inputperformed with a respective contact (or a plurality of contacts), wherethe respective press input is detected based at least in part ondetecting an increase in intensity of the contact (or plurality ofcontacts) above a press-input intensity threshold. In some embodiments,the respective operation is performed in response to detecting theincrease in intensity of the respective contact above the press-inputintensity threshold (e.g., the respective operation is performed on a“down stroke” of the respective press input). In some embodiments, thepress input includes an increase in intensity of the respective contactabove the press-input intensity threshold and a subsequent decrease inintensity of the contact below the press-input intensity threshold, andthe respective operation is performed in response to detecting thesubsequent decrease in intensity of the respective contact below thepress-input threshold (e.g., the respective operation is performed on an“up stroke” of the respective press input).

In some embodiments, the device employs intensity hysteresis to avoidaccidental inputs sometimes termed “jitter,” where the device defines orselects a hysteresis intensity threshold with a predefined relationshipto the press-input intensity threshold (e.g., the hysteresis intensitythreshold is X intensity units lower than the press-input intensitythreshold or the hysteresis intensity threshold is 75%, 90%, or somereasonable proportion of the press-input intensity threshold). Thus, insome embodiments, the press input includes an increase in intensity ofthe respective contact above the press-input intensity threshold and asubsequent decrease in intensity of the contact below the hysteresisintensity threshold that corresponds to the press-input intensitythreshold, and the respective operation is performed in response todetecting the subsequent decrease in intensity of the respective contactbelow the hysteresis intensity threshold (e.g., the respective operationis performed on an “up stroke” of the respective press input).Similarly, in some embodiments, the press input is detected only whenthe device detects an increase in intensity of the contact from anintensity at or below the hysteresis intensity threshold to an intensityat or above the press-input intensity threshold and, optionally, asubsequent decrease in intensity of the contact to an intensity at orbelow the hysteresis intensity, and the respective operation isperformed in response to detecting the press input (e.g., the increasein intensity of the contact or the decrease in intensity of the contact,depending on the circumstances).

For ease of explanation, the description of operations performed inresponse to a press input associated with a press-input intensitythreshold or in response to a gesture including the press input are,optionally, triggered in response to detecting: an increase in intensityof a contact above the press-input intensity threshold, an increase inintensity of a contact from an intensity below the hysteresis intensitythreshold to an intensity above the press-input intensity threshold, adecrease in intensity of the contact below the press-input intensitythreshold, or a decrease in intensity of the contact below thehysteresis intensity threshold corresponding to the press-inputintensity threshold. Additionally, in examples where an operation isdescribed as being performed in response to detecting a decrease inintensity of a contact below the press-input intensity threshold, theoperation is, optionally, performed in response to detecting a decreasein intensity of the contact below a hysteresis intensity thresholdcorresponding to, and lower than, the press-input intensity threshold.As described above, in some embodiment, the triggering of theseresponses also depends on time-based criteria being met (e.g., a delaytime has elapsed between a first intensity threshold being met and asecond intensity threshold being met).

FIG. 11 is a flowchart 1100 of a method for controlling an externalelectronic device in accordance with embodiments of the presentinvention. Initially, input is received (1102) from a first finger(e.g., an index finger (624)) of a user on a finger-ring-mountedtouchscreen (worn on a second finger, e.g., a thumb (626)). One of aplurality of touch events associated with the input is then selected(1104). A command associated with the touch event is transmitted (1106)to an external electronic device. Each of these steps, and otherembodiments, are described in greater detail below.

A touch, gesture, or other such event is recognized (1102) by thetouch-sensitive display or pad system (712) when the user's first fingermakes physical contact with (or comes near to) the touch screen or pad(110). The display controller (756), using the processor (722) processesthe input and recognize the x,y position, duration, and/or pressure ofthe contact and translates the contact into a computer-readable form. Insome embodiments, data corresponding to the contact is stored in thememory (702).

A contact/motion module (730) may select (1104) one of a plurality oftouch events based on the input. The input may be, for example, a tap,double-tap, glide, trace, character, or any other such input. In someembodiments, the input is compared to a library of recognized inputs. Ifthe input is not recognized, the contact/motion module (730) may reportan error and/or ignore the input.

A command associated with the touch event is transmitted (1106) to anexternal electronic device. Alternatively or in addition, the inputand/or the touch event is sent to the external electronic device forselection of the touch event or execution thereon; the command may beexecuted locally on the ring computing device (902). The command may be,for example, a mouse, cursor, or pointer movement, a volume control, alighting control, or other such command. In other embodiments, the touchevent itself is transmitted to the external electronic device (904),which associates the command therewith.

In some embodiments, the user is notified of transmission of the command(1108) or local execution of the command by issuing haptic feedback viahaptic actuator to the finger of the user bearing the ring. The hapticfeedback may be, for example, a vibration or pulse. In otherembodiments, the notification is an audio one; in still otherembodiments, no notification is given. In other embodiments audio,visual, and/or haptic feedback is provided to the user.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart 1200 of a method for controlling an externalelectronic device in accordance with embodiments of the presentinvention. Initially, a voice-command input of a user is received (1202)on a finger-ring-mounted microphone. One of a plurality of eventsassociated with the input is then selected (1204). A command associatedwith the event is transmitted (1206) to an external electronic device orexecuted locally on the ring computing device. Finally, the user may benotified (1208) of transmission of the command or the local execution ofthe command via haptic, visual, and/or audio feedback.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart 1300 of a method for controlling an externalelectronic device in accordance with embodiments of the presentinvention. Information transmitted from at least one external electronicdevice is received (1302) on a ring computing device. The information isdisplayed (1304) on a touchscreen disposed at least partially at anouter peripheral surface of the ring computing device. In someembodiments, a haptic actuator is activated (1306) based on the receivedinformation.

In some embodiments, the input corresponds to a letter, number,character, or other symbol that the user wishes to select or draw. Thetouchscreen (110) may display some or all of a set of available letters,numbers, characters, or other symbols; in some embodiments, thetouchscreen (110) displays some or all of a QWERTY keyboard. The usermay then select a desired input by touching the portion of the on-screenkeyboard corresponding to the desired input. In some embodiments, theuser may zoom in or out on the keyboard by entering a command (e.g., apinch-in, pinch-out, a double-tap gesture, a rotation of the dialcontrol, etc.). The user may further drag a zoomed-in view to displayother portions of the QWERTY keyboard on the touchscreen (110).

In other embodiments, the input corresponds to a desired movement ofpointer, cursor, or other such indicator displayed on an externalelectronic device (904) linked to the ring computing device (902), whichfurther displays a plurality of letters, numbers, characters, or othersymbols beneath the pointer. The user may navigate to a desired key on aQWERTY keyboard displayed on the external electronic device (904) withthe touch screen or pad on the ring computing device (902) with, e.g.,gliding gestures and then select the desired input with, e.g., a tapgesture. In other embodiments, the user touches and moves his or fingeracross the touchscreen or pad to correspondingly move the cursor on thescreen of the external electronic device; characters are highlighted asthe cursor rolls over the character. The user may move the cursor bygesturing and holding his or her finger at an edge of the touch screenor pad, as described below. The character pointed by the cursor ischosen (and further highlighted) when the user lifts his or her finger.In other embodiments, as the user chooses characters, the externaldisplay shows options for completing the desired word. The user selectsone of the autocomplete words via any of the character-selection methodsdescribed above. The autocomplete words may also be shown on the ringtouchscreen.

In either embodiment, whether the keys are displayed on the ringcomputing device (902) or on the external electronic device 904, theinput may correspond to desired words instead of individual characters.For example, the user may input a desired word by tapping a firstcharacter of the word and then gliding or swiping his or her fingerwithout lifting it to portions of the touch screen or pad correspondingto second, third, and subsequent characters of the word, finally liftinghis or her finger when all the characters in the word have been entered.In another embodiment, the user glides or swipes his or her fingerwithout lifting it to portions of the touch screen or pad correspondingto the first character of the word and holds the finger until thecharacter is selected (i.e. the character is highlighted in a particularway to indicate selection); and then continuing the gesture ofgliding/swiping without lifting and holding the finger to select asecond, third, and subsequent characters of the word, finally liftinghis or her finger when all the characters in the word have been entered.Software on the ring computing device (902) and/or the externalelectronic device (904) may thereafter calculate the intended word bycomparing the x,y positions of the indicated letters to a database ofknown words and corresponding x,y positions.

In some embodiments, the user may input characters by drawing them onthe touch screen or touch pad (110). For example, if the user wishes toinput an “I” character, the user would make a gesture of a vertical lineon the touch screen or touch pad (110). Similar gestures may be made forother characters. In other embodiments, a simplified set of symbols orcharacters may be used in lieu of or in addition to the actualcharacters.

In some embodiments, particularly when the user wishes to make a largemovement of an on-screen pointer, volume, scroll list, or other suchuser interface element, the user would normally have to make a pluralityof repeat gestures on the touch screen or touch pad (110) in order toaccomplish the movement. Instead, the user may make one gesture from aninterior portion of the touch screen or touch pad (110) (i.e., a pointdistal to the border of the touch screen or touch pad (110) and theouter periphery surface (106)) to the border and then hold his or herfinger at the border. The ring computing device (902) may thus recognizethis gesture as an input from the user corresponding to a touch eventinterpreted as a continuous gesture in a certain direction.

In some embodiments, the power system (762) of the ring computing device(902) includes a port, such as a micro-USB port, for wired charging. Inother embodiments, the power system (762) of the ring computing device(902) receives power from a wireless power source. The wireless powersource may be a mat or pad upon which the user may place the ringcomputing device (902) when the user is not wearing it; the user mayalternatively continue to wear the ring computing device (902) and placeit on or near the pad. In other embodiments, the wireless power sourcemay be a wall-mounted hook or stud having a diameter smaller than thatof the aperture (104) of the ring computing device (902); the user mayremove the ring computing device (902) from his or her finger and placeit on the hook or stud for charging. FIG. 14 illustrates a system 1400that includes a support member 1402, a hook or stud 1404 attachedthereto, and ring 1406 disposed on the hook or stud 1404. In someembodiments, the hook or stud 1404 includes circuitry for wirelesslybroadcasting power to the ring 1406, and the power is supplied by ACmains behind the wall 1402. In some embodiments, the support member 1402is a wall, automobile dashboard, appliance, item of furniture, or othersuch object; in other embodiments, the support member 1402 is attachedto one of said objects. In other embodiments, the ring 1406 attaches toor is held in place near the support member 1402 by a magnet inside orattached to the support member 1402 and/or a magnet in the ring 1406 inaddition to or instead of the post or stud 1404; in these embodiments,the wireless power broadcasting circuitry is disposed in or attached tothe support member 1402. In other embodiments, the ring power rechargeunit is wired to a wall power plug and is placed at a convenientlocation (such as a television table or coffee table). Multiplepluggable hooks or studs may plug to the same power recharge unit,allowing recharging of multiple rings at the same time while using onesingle power unit. In other embodiments, the wireless power source isincorporated or integrated into an object or item upon which the userwould place his or her hands on, or hold, for performing some othertask, such as the steering wheel of a car, a computer mouse, a glove,etc. FIG. 15 illustrates a system 1500 that includes an automobilesteering wheel 1502 that includes a wireless power broadcasting unit1504; when the user's hand 1506 is used to operate the steering wheel1502, the unit 1504 broadcasts power to the ring 1508 and therebycharges the battery within. In other embodiments, the embodiments shownin FIGS. 14 and 15 provide power to the rings 1406 and 1508 through awired connection. In some embodiments, a wired charger is used insteadof or in addition to the wireless charger.

In some embodiments, the ring computing device (902) includes anear-field communication (NFC) initiator (i.e., an active scanner)and/or target (i.e., a passive tag); other types of similar systems,such as radio-frequency identification scanners and/or readers, as wellas two-way systems such as BLUETOOTH or WI-FI, etc. are within the scopeof the present invention. In some embodiments, the NFC device is used tointeract with, change the state of, unlock, or otherwise affect one ormore external electronic devices (904). The external electronic device(904) need not be already paired or otherwise in wireless communicationwith the ring (902) computing device (902) via, e.g., BLUETOOTH orWI-FI. For example, a user of a ring computing device (902) may bring anexternal electronic device out of a sleep or standby state by bringingthe ring computing device (902) into physical proximity therewith and/orby holding or picking up the external electronic device (904).

In some embodiments, the external electronic device (904) reacts only ifthe NFC identification information in the ring (902) matches knownidentification information in or accessible to the external electronicdevice (904). The user may provide this information to the remoteelectronic device (904) via direct input thereto, using the ringcomputing device (902), or by using another remote electronic device(904). For example, the user may bring a cellular telephone out of asleep state, turn on its screen, activate its voice-recognition system,or unlock its screen by picking up the phone with the hand bearing thering computing device (902) when an NFC initiator on the phone sensesthe NFC tag on the ring computing device and recognizes its NFCidentification information. In some embodiments, the sensing of the ring(902) may save power over prior art devices that use an accelerometer todetect an initiation of an interaction with an external device, such asa cellular telephone. For example, in some prior art systems, anaccelerometer must be consistently powered to “listen” for eventsindicating that a user is initiating an interaction with the device,such as lifting the device from a resting position. As will beappreciated, by detecting NFC proximity with ring (902), a device canpower up the accelerometer only as the ring (902) is detected inproximity with the device—thus saving power. In other embodiments, theuser may unlock an NFC-reader-enabled door, keycard scanner, orautomobile or turn on a light, television, or stereo.

In some embodiments, the external electronic device (904) reactsdifferently when different NFC identification information is read from aset of different ring computing devices (902). The different ringcomputing devices (902) are configured, in various embodiments, to havedifferent levels of authorization, different user profiles, or differentprivacy settings, and the external electronic device (904) permitsdifferent levels of access or control thereto and/or displays differentapplications, themes, or settings. For example, a cellular telephone maypermit full access and control when it senses NFC identificationinformation associated with a ring computing device (902) of a primaryuser; different customizations, themes, or applications when it sensesNFC identification information associated with a ring computing device(902) of a spouse, friend, or co-worker of the user, and limited accessand control it when senses NFC identification information associatedwith a ring computing device (902) of a child of the primary user. Insome embodiments, if the external electronic device (904) is active oris activated via a button press, voice command, accelerometeractivation, or other means of activation, but does not sense recognizedNFC identification information because the authorized ring is not nearthe external electronic device, it deactivates, does not activate,activates in a guest mode (thereby displaying only limited functionalityand/or a guest login prompt), and/or activates but does not display orpermit access to personal information of the user (such as, e.g.,incoming calls, appointments, or other such notifications).

In some embodiments, the external computing device (904) changes a stateor setting depending on whether it is held or activated by a user'sright or left hand. If the user bears only one ring computing device(902) on one hand, for example, external computing device (904)distinguishes between hands based on whether it senses the NFCidentification information. Similarly, if the user bears a ringcomputing device on each hand, the external electronic device (904)senses the different NFC identification information. The externalcomputing device (904) may instead or in addition infer which hand isholding it based on a signal strength, orientation, origin, or positionof the NFC signal emitted by the ring computing device (902). Theexternal electronic device (904) may, for example, horizontally flip auser interface screen or element in response to left-versus-rightholding, or change the size or shape of user interface elements inresponse to detecting that the device is currently being operatedsingle-handedly as opposed to two-hands, or vice versa.

In some embodiments, the external computing device (904) senses arelative distance between it and the ring computing device (902) bymonitoring the signal strength of the NFC emitted thereby; a weakersignal implies a greater distance and a stronger signal implies asmaller distance. The user may use this distance as a control input tothe external electronic device (904) and, for example, control thevolume of a television by varying it. In other embodiments, the externalcomputing device (904) includes at least two NFC scanners/initiators andcomputes an actual distance between it and the ring computing device(902); at least three NFC scanners/initiators permit triangulation ofthe position of the ring computing device (902). As can be appreciated,using multiple NFC scanners in the external computing device (904)allows the device to compute directionality of movement of the ringcomputing device (902) with respect to computing device (904)—sensingwhether the ring (902) is moving left to right, right to left, closer orfarther, and then in response to the sensing performing an associatedaction, such as page-turning, zooming in or out of an interface, pagescrolling, etc.

In other embodiments, the ring computing device (902) includes at leasttwo NFC emitters, one on each side of the ring, and the externalelectronic device (904) measures a signal emitted from each separatelyto more accurately measure rotation of a users hand and translate therotation into an associated input signal on the external electronicdevice (904). For example, the user may rotate her hand to turn a dialdisplayed on a screen of the external electronic device (904).

In some embodiments, the user authenticates him or herself to the ringcomputing device (902) via a username and password, security challengequestion, or biometric data; the authentication may be one-time,periodic, or ongoing. The authentication may lapse if the ring computingdevice (902) senses it has been removed from the user's finger using,e.g., by sensing that there is no longer contact with the user's skinand/or no measured pulse. While authenticated, in some embodiments, theuser uses the ring (902) to access secure documents on a shared remoteelectronic device (904) by bringing the remote electronic device (902)into proximity with an NFC initiator thereon and thus automaticallyauthenticates him or herself. For examples, doctors in a hospital may beauthenticated to and use a plurality of ring computing devices (902) toaccess partitioned patient data on shared terminals.

In some embodiments, the authenticated ring computing device (902)allows additional transactions or interactions to be facilitated. In afinancial transaction, the user's ring (902) is paired with a financialaccount, such that transactions can be completed merely by bringing thering within an NFC reader field. For example, if the handle or door of arefrigerator were fitted with an NFC reader, opening the refrigeratorwith the hand wearing the ring would identify the user to therefrigerator. The user could then be charged for any item withdrawn fromthe refrigerator through the associated financial account. In asituation where the individual items were also fitted with NFCtransmitters, each item removed from the refrigerator could “announce”itself to the refrigerator reader as it was removed so that the userwould only be charged for the specific items removed.

NFC communication may similarly be used to share information with otherdevices, including other ring computing devices (902); two users bothwearing ring computing devices (902), for example, may share theircontact information by shaking respective hands each bearing a ring(902). The users may configure their devices (902) to share otherinformation, messages, or money. For example, the user may say “byshaking hands with Steve I agree to give him $20,” which is recorded andconverted to text and/or computer instructions, such that when the usershakes hands with Steve, and the user's ring is detected by an externaldevice or a second ring worn by Steve, $20 is paid to Steve. As will beunderstood, any digital “right” could be passed between users in asimilar manner, such as passing event tickets, music, electronic books,or digital file by indicating to one or both of the ring (902) orexternal device (904) of the user's intent by shaking another user'shand. As will be appreciated the metaphor of handshaking isnon-limiting: the user may bring ring (902) within proximity of anotheruser's NFC reader, whether embodied in another ring (902) or any otherexternal device (904).

In some embodiments, the user establishes a wireless link (908) betweenthe ring computing device (902) and an external electronic device (904)in any one of a variety of different ways. For example, the user maybring a near-field communication device integrated into the ringcomputing device (902) in close proximity to a corresponding near-fieldcommunication device (e.g., a reading device) integrated into theexternal electronic device (904). The user may instead or in additiontouch a surface of the ring computing device (902) to a surface of theexternal electronic device (904). Once the near-field communication (orsimilar) devices recognize each other, the wireless link (908) may beestablished.

In other embodiments, the user may indicate a desire to establish thewireless link (908) by performing a hand gesture. For example, the usermay point at the external electronic device (904) using the fingerbearing the ring (902). Alternatively or in addition, the user may flickor snap his or her wrist during the pointing gesture and/or point andmove his or her finger closer to or farther away from the externalelectronic device (904). For example, the user may point at a set-topbox while wearing the ring and an accelerometer in the ring mayassociate the pointing motion with a direction towards the set-top box,and thereafter establish a wireless connection with the set-top box.Similarly, the user may switch between paired external electronicdevices by pressing a button (306) or rotating the dial control (310).

In some embodiments, the telephone module (738) includes voice-over-IPor similar capabilities, and the wireless link (908) comprises a WI-FIor similar protocol capable of supporting IP traffic. The user may thusinitiate or receive telephone calls on the ring computing device (902)using the telephone module (738) and wireless link (908). The user mayinitiate a telephone call using a voice command, by inputting atelephone number on the ring computing device (902), or by selecting aphone number or contact in a list of phone numbers or contacts displayedon the ring computing device (902). The user may receive an incomingtelephone call by tapping or gesturing on the touch screen or pad (110)or by tapping on an area or icon (i.e., a green button) on thetouchscreen or by making a hand gesture (e.g., raising the ringcomputing device (902) to his or her mouth or face). In otherembodiments, the ring computing device is used as a more convenientinterface to perform basic functions of other devices, e.g., answeringan incoming call on the user's cellular telephone, when pairedwirelessly to the telephone, without having to reach out for his or hercellular telephone.

In some embodiments, VoIP-related or other, the microphone (410) of thering computing device (902) may be used to capture quiet speech orsounds of the user when the user presses or brings the microphone near(410) to his or her neck, mouth, or throat. Software on the ringcomputing device (902) and/or a paired external electronic device (904)may be used to compensate for or filter out any distortion in the speechor sounds caused by capturing them through the neck or throat or inclose proximity to the mouth. The user may thus capture quiet speech orsounds in environments in which louder speech or sounds would bedifficult to capture, dangerous or inappropriate.

In some embodiments, the ring computing device (902) is used to controla variety of different external electronic devices (904). For example,the external electronic device (904) may be a camera, and the ringcomputing device (902) may be paired thereto and control (via thewireless link (908) the camera's shutter, zoom, focus, f-stop, or anyother control via a tap, gesture, or hand gesture. When paired with adesktop or laptop computer, the ring computing device (902) may be usedas a mouse, as a scroll wheel, as a task switcher, for cutting andpasting, or for any other similar task. Such use of the ring computingdevice (902) may permit the user to perform such functions, normallyrelegated to computer mice or special keyboard keys, without removinghis or her fingers from the home keyboard row, thus increasingproductivity. In some embodiments, the ring computing device (902)recognizes a swiping or flicking hand gesture of the user and sends acommand to the external electronic device (904) to change input fieldsin, e.g., a web page input form. Use of the ring computing device (902)as a mouse or similar function may trigger the ring computing device(902) and/or paired computer to disable the computer touch pad tothereby prevent errant gestures made thereto.

In other embodiments, the ring computing device (902) may be paired withan automobile audio system, cruise control system, heating/coolingsystem, navigation system, or entertainment system and thus permit theuser to control said systems without needing to remove his or her handsfrom the steering wheel, gear shift, or other control. The ringcomputing device (902) may be similarly paired with active-displayeyeglasses, thermostats, or appliances. If paired with a smart watch,the control dial (310) of the ring computing device (902) may be used inlieu of or in conjunction with the crown of the watch to thereby permitone-handed control of the smart watch (i.e., the hand upon which thewatch is worn may also be used to control the watch, rather than theuser's opposing hand) and/or two-handed control of the watch (i.e., thering may be used to manipulate the functionality provided by the watchcrown and the opposing hand can be used to control the watch). The ringcomputing device (902) may further be paired with a video gamecontroller or video game system and be used to control a video game orbe used in conjunction with a video game controller to control a videogame.

In some embodiments, a haptic feedback controller (714) is used to givehaptic feedback to the user via a haptic actuator. A single hapticfeedback generator may be used to inform the user of completion of anevent, sending of a command, recognition of a gesture, receipt of amessage, or other such events. A single pulse, for example, may indicatesuccessful completion of an event, while a double pulse or vibration maybe used for unsuccessful completion of the event. In some embodiments,two or more haptic feedback generators are used to provide directionalfeedback to the user; if the user is navigating while driving a car orwalking, for example, pulsing a generator located on the right side ofthe user's finger may indicate a right-hand turn is imminent, forexample, and the left side for a left turn.

In some embodiments, haptic feedback allows use of the ring computingdevice (902) without requiring that the user look at the touch pad ordisplay (110) or other visual feedback element of the ring computingdevice (902); these embodiments are especially useful for users wishingdiscretion or for visually impaired users. A user may double-tap thetouch pad or display (110), for example, to check to see if he or shehas any unread notifications on a paired cellular phone or computer; thering computing device (902) may issue haptic feedback if a notificationis pending and no haptic feedback if not. This feature may allow a userto discreetly check for pending notifications without distracting aconversation partner, for example. Similarly, the user may rapidly tapthe touch pad or display (110) many times in quick succession (e.g., tentimes) to send an emergency alert or request if he or she feelsendangered but does not want to alert a potentially threatening party tosaid alert or request.

In some embodiments, information is encoded in patterns ofhaptic-feedback pulses. In some embodiments, the patterns may bepre-established patterns such as Morse code; a short pulse correspondsto a Morse-code dot, for example, and a long pulse corresponds to aMorse-code dash. Any other system of encoding is within the scope of thepresent invention. In other embodiments, Braille or similar charactersare created on the touch pad or touch screen (110) by raising portionsof the pad or screen (110). In other embodiments, other forms offeedback are used instead of or in addition to haptic feedback. Forexample, the speaker (711) may be used to play a sound when informationor a command is sent to or received by the ring computing device (902)

In some embodiments, the ring computing device (902) includes one ormore biometric sensors (716) and controllers (760). These sensors may beused to collect biometric data of the user, such as heart rate,temperature, motion, cardiac rhythm, perspiration, and galvanic skinresponse, and this information may be collected and displayed by thering computing device (902) and/or a paired electronic device so thatthe user may monitor his or her health, fitness, activity, or caloricenergy expended. In some embodiments, the collected biometric data isused to authenticate the user by comparing the collected data against adatabase of data signatures known for the user. Some or all of thecollected biometric data may be shared with other users, personaltrainers, health professionals, or other parties. In some embodiments,the ring computing device (902) transmits the pulse of the user toanother user also wearing a ring computing device (902), which informsthe other user of the first user's pulse via visual (e.g. animation of aheart pumping) or haptic feedback. In some embodiments, the ringcomputing device (902) includes a fingerprint reader for capturing afingerprint of the user; in some embodiments, the fingerprint reader isintegrated into the touch pad or touch screen (110) or is separate fromthe touch pad or touch screen (110). In other embodiments, the ringcomputing device includes environment sensors, such as temperature,pressure, and other sensors.

Collected biometric data may also or instead be used as user input tocontrol an external electronic device (904). A biometric sensor such asa skin-conductivity or pressure sensor may, for example, detect how muchthe user's bearing finger is extended or curled up by measuring thefinger's skin conductivity or pressure. The user may thus issue commandsto a remote electronic device my extending or curling up his or herfingers. A fist-making motion on the hand bearing the ring computingdevice (902), for example, may be recognized as an escape or exitcommand by the ring computing device (902) and this command may betransmitted to the external electronic device (904). The user mayfurther issue commands by making a first and tensing or pulsing his orher finger muscles to thereby change the finger conductance or pressure,which may be detected by the ring computing device (902).

In some embodiments, the collected biometric data (e.g., heart rate dataor fingerprint data) is compared to known data of the user and, if itmatches or matches within a tolerance, used to unlock or otherwiseprovide access to features of the ring computing device (902) that areotherwise locked or inaccessible. In other embodiments, the matchedcollected biometric data is used to unlock features of an externalelectronic device (904), such as a computer, tablet, laptop, door, orautomobile and/or to authenticate the user for an electronic payment.

In some embodiments, the user wears the ring computing device (902) onthe hand that he or she uses for writing on physical paper with a pen orpencil; in these embodiments, the ring computing device (902) is pairedwith a laptop, desktop, tablet, cellular phone, or similar computer, andsensors in the ring computing device (902) (e.g., accelerometers (767),gyroscopes (768), or similar sensors) detect the motion, acceleration,and/or displacement of the user's hand as he or she writes printed,script, or other characters. The ring computing device (902) mayautomatically detect whether it is being worn on the user's right orleft hand and on which finger thereon, and this information may be usedto improve the accuracy of the detection. In some embodiments, the userplaces the ring computing device (902) in direct contact with a pen orpencil. Software running on either the ring computing device (902)and/or paired external computing device (904) detects the motion of thehand using input from the sensors and computes the characters written bythe user. The computed characters may then be sent to an activeapplication executing on the external computing device (904), such as ane-mail program, word-processing program, or transcription programs usedby healthcare providers. Other gestures may be detected by the ringcomputing device (902) to perform other text entry functions, such ascursor navigation, backspace, delete, or cut-and-paste; for example, ifthe user makes a motion that flicks his or her hand and ring computingdevice (902) rapidly to the left, the ring computing device (902) maysend a backspace command to the word-processing program. The ringcomputing device (902) may similarly detect lines, shapes, and othernon-character gestures made by the user with the pen or pencil and sendthem to (e.g.) a word-processing program executing on the externalcomputing device (904).

In other embodiments, the ring computing device (902) permits the use ofa virtual touchpad. The external electronic device (904) may have only asmall touchpad (e.g., a laptop touchpad) or no touchpad at all (e.g., asmart television), making interaction therewith difficult. The ringcomputing device (902) may capture the motion of the hand of the user ashe or she performs gestures on a non-touchpad surface, such as atabletop, and send information corresponding to the captured motion to apaired external electronic device (904), such as a smart television orlaptop, which may move a pointer or similar user interface element as ifthe user were making the gestures on a touchpad or touchscreen. The usermay similarly perform other gestures, such as tapping or double-tapping,on the non-touchpad surface, which are similarly interpreted as if theywere performed on a touchpad.

In some embodiments, the ring computing device (902) continuallymonitors the microphone (410) for voice input from the user andrecognizes voice commands when they are spoken by the user. The ringcomputing device (902) may do so in a low-power mode when it is nototherwise active to conserve power, and the voice command may beprefaced by a keyword or phrase to thereby indicate to the ringcomputing device (902) that a voice command follows. In otherembodiments, the user informs the ring computing device (902) that avoice command is imminent with a gesture, such as tapping the touch pador screen (404), raising the ring computing device (902) to his or herhead or mouth, flicking the hand bearing the ring computing device(902), or with a similar gesture.

In some embodiments, the geographical location of the ring computingdevice (902) is monitored by one or more external computing devices(904); the location may be determined by the ring computing device (902)itself (via GPS, WI-FI location, or cellular tower location) or inferredby the location of a nearby paired external electronic device. Thegeographical location may be used to locate the user; this location maybe used to change the functionality of the ring computing device (902).For example, if the user is located in his or her home, gesturing on thetouch pad or screen (110) may default to controlling the volume of atelevision or dimming the house lights. If, however, the user is locatedat his or her work, gesturing on the touch pad or screen (110) maydefault to performing mouse-like functions on the user's work computer.

The location of the ring computing device (902) may be used to changethe state of one or more external electronic devices (904). For example,when a user enters a room, a device paired to the ring computing device(902) may turn on or raise the room lights, temperature, or volume of amedia device; when the user leaves a room, the device may lower thelights, temperature, or volume. The user may also or in addition changeproximate lights via voice commands captured by the ring computingdevice (902). The state of one or more external electronic devices (904)may be changed or customized based on which ring, the ring's registeredowner, or the user authenticated by using identifying informationreceived from the ring computing device (902) (e.g., a password, serialnumber, MAC address, biometric information or user voice). For example,if one user enters a bathroom the bathroom television is turned on,while if a second user enters the bathroom, the television is not turnedon.

In some embodiments, the user of the ring computing device (902) isauthenticated before the paired external electronic device (904) permitsa change in its state. For example, the external electronic device (904)may include a list of authenticated members of a household or workplaceand may compare identifying information received from the ring computingdevice (902) (e.g., a password, serial number, MAC address, biometricinformation, or user voice) to confirm the identity of the user beforeany state is changed. In other embodiments, the external electronicdevice (904) further authorizes the user after authentication; someusers who are members of a household, for example, may have greaterprivileges to alter the states of external electronic devices (904) thanother users. Users who are parents, for example, may have greaterprivileges than that of users who are children, and may be permittedgreater control of the states of external electronic devices (904).

The location of the ring computing device (902) may further be used tolocate the ring if it is lost or misplaced. The user may remotely accessthe ring computing device (902) via an external electronic device (902)or other device and view the location of the ring computing device(902). In some embodiments, if the ring runs out of power, the externalelectronic devices (902) maintain the historical data including the lastlocation of the ring before it was no longer detected. In otherembodiments, the user may remotely cause the ring computing device (902)to beep, vibrate, or otherwise emit a sound or alert.

In some embodiments, two or more ring computing devices (1012, 1014) areused to control a single external electronic device (1002). The user ofa first ring computing device (1012) may use it to control userinterface element or function (e.g., a pointer (1008)) in a first window(1004), and a user of a second ring computing device (1012) may use itto control user interface element or function in a second window (1006)on the external electronic device (1002). The two windows (1008, 1010)may display user interfaces from copies of the same application or fromdifferent applications. One application may be a video player, forexample, while the other may be a web browser. The two ring computingdevices (1012, 1014) may use separate electronic links (1016, 1018) tothe external electronic device (1002) or share the same link.

In other embodiments, the two or more ring computing devices (1012,1014) may be used to control the same window (1004) of the externalelectronic device (1002) or the same external electronic device (904).For example, two users may each control the volume of a smart televisionor the pointer in an electronic presentation. If the two users issueconflicting commands (e.g., one user attempts to raise the volume whileanother user simultaneously tries to lower the volume), the two or morering computing devices (1012, 1014) may issue visual, audio, or hapticfeedback to the users informing each of the conflict. In otherembodiments, one user has a higher authority level than the other, andthat user's commands take precedence over the others.

In some embodiments, a single user bears two or more ring computingdevices (1012, 1014). The user may use each ring (1012, 1014) to controla separate external electronic device (904) or a single externalelectronic device (904). For example, the user may use a ring (1012) onhis or dominant hand to control a computer pointer and a second ring(1014) on his or her dominant hand to control a volume of a smarttelevision or other audio device. When controlling a single externalelectronic device (904) with two rings (1012, 1014), the user maycontrol different states, attributes, or user interface elements witheach ring or, in other embodiments, control different attributes of asingle element with each ring. For example, one ring (1012) may beassigned to x-y motion of a pointer in three-dimensional space, whilethe other ring (1014) may be assigned to z motion.

In some embodiments, a first user wears or operates a first ringcomputing device (902) and a second user wears or operates a second ringcomputing device (902). As mentioned above, in some embodiments, thering computing device (902) transmits the pulse of the user to anotheruser also wearing a ring computing device (902), which informs the otheruser of the first user's pulse via visual or haptic feedback. In someembodiments, the first user inputs gestures or taps on the first ringcomputing device (902); this input is transmitted to the second ringcomputing device (902) either directly or indirectly via an externalelectronic device, and the second user receives corresponding haptic,visual, audio, or other feedback.

The first user enters the message using the first ring computing device(902) in any of a variety of different ways. If the message includestext, the first user may enter the text directly using any of thecharacter-entry systems and methods described herein. The first user mayalternatively or in addition configure the first ring computing deviceto associate text with a touch pad or touch screen gesture, handgesture, pattern of tactile inputs, symbol, or other input and therebytransmit the text by performing the gesture, pattern, or symbol. Forexample, the first user may associate the text “yes” with an upwardswipe or by drawing the letter “Y” and the text “no” with a downwardswipe or by drawing the letter “N.” In other embodiments, the first usersimilarly associates an audio, visual, or haptic message with a gesture,pattern, or symbol.

In some embodiments, the first or second user similarly associates adisplay pattern, audio pattern, and/or haptic feedback pattern toexecute or display on the second ring computing device (902) when themessage is received. The second user may override a display pattern,audio pattern, and/or haptic feedback pattern selected by the first userfor a different type, duration, or style of message; for example, thesecond user may prefer visual feedback in lieu of haptic feedback, orvice versa, and specify that (for example) haptic feedback pulse beconverted to audio beeps or visual dots.

For example, the first user taps five times or draws the number “5” onthe touch pad or screen, and the second user receives five pulses and/orviews the number “5” on the touchscreen, indicating, for example, thatthe first user is five minutes late, a fifth goal of a viewed sportsgame has occurred, or other similar meaning. In some embodiments, thetouchscreen displays a meaning or intent behind a particular pattern ofhaptic-feedback pulses as defined by the first user; the second userlearns the intent behind the pattern by viewing the touchscreen upon thefirst receipt thereof. The second user may thus not need to view thetouchscreen upon subsequent receipts of the haptic-feedback pattern.

In some embodiments, the first and second ring computing devices (902)are paired when the first user sends the message. The pairing occurscontinually when the devices are powered on, only when the first andsecond users are in close geographic proximity, only during certaintimes of the day, or at any other time. The first user may send arequest to the second user requesting a pairing, and the second user mayaccept or reject the request. In some embodiments, the second user maynot reject the request (if, for example, the second user is asubordinate or child of the first user). The first user may send themessage to any number of other users.

In some embodiments, the user may install and execute ring-specificapplications on the ring computing device (902) (e.g. phone, email,messages, health, weather, pay, traffic, or music applications). Thering-specific applications may be downloaded via the external electronicdevices connected to the ring, via a direct Internet connection to aring applications store or ring applications website, or through othermeans. The ring applications may use any of the ring computing deviceinput/output devices such as the touchscreen, buttons, sensors,microphone, speakers, haptic actuators, and other components forinteracting with the user. The ring apps may operate using local datathat can be synchronized with and through the external electronicdevices, such as other personal devices owned by the user that containuser personal data (e.g., list of contacts, photos, music playlists,emails, messages, previous locations of the user, or biometrical data).

In some embodiments, the ring computing device (902) includes one ormore photo and/or video cameras. In some embodiments, the camera (210)is centered on top of the ring above the touchscreen or pad (i.e. on atop position of the user's finger when the palm of the user's hand isfacing down as illustrated in FIG. 2). This position allows for easypointing of the camera towards the desired shot by parallel aligning androtating the finger. The camera shutter can be activated by quickgesture like tap or single tap or by pushing one of the buttons or crowndial. The combination of always available ring camera, with easy ofpositioning and quick camera shutter allows for quick shots, capturingspontaneous human behaviors, right on time nature shots, etc. Thesecamera shots have also the advantage of being less intrusive and notdistracting, disturbing or interfering with the scene or environment, asopposed to what often happens when photographers prepare and pointcameras at people and even animals.

In accordance with some embodiments, FIG. 16 shows a functional blockdiagram of an electronic device 1500 configured in accordance with theprinciples of the various described embodiments. The functional blocksof the device are, optionally, implemented by hardware, software,firmware, or a combination thereof to carry out the principles of thevarious described embodiments. It is understood by persons of skill inthe art that the functional blocks described in FIG. 16 are, optionally,combined or separated into sub-blocks to implement the principles of thevarious described embodiments. Therefore, the description hereinoptionally supports any possible combination or separation or furtherdefinition of the functional blocks described herein.

As shown in FIG. 16, an electronic device 1600 includes a display unit1602 configured to display a user interface, a touch-sensitive surfaceunit 1604 configured to receive contacts, and a processing unit 1606coupled with the display unit 1602 and the touch-sensitive surface unit1604. In some embodiments, the processing unit 1606 includes: a sensingunit 1608, a selecting unit 1610, and a transmitting unit 1612.

The processing unit 1610 is configured to receive input from a firstfinger of a user on a finger-ring-mounted touchscreen (e.g., with thesensing unit 1608), select touch events associated with the input (e.g.,with the selecting unit 1610), and transmit a command associated withthe touch event to an external electronic device (e.g., with thetransmitting unit 1612).

The operations in the information processing methods described aboveare, optionally implemented by running one or more functional modules ininformation processing apparatus such as general purpose processors orapplication specific chips.

The foregoing description, for purpose of explanation, has beendescribed with reference to specific embodiments. However, theillustrative discussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or tolimit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modificationsand variations are possible in view of the above teachings. Theembodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the invention and its practical applications, to therebyenable others skilled in the art to best use the invention and variousdescribed embodiments with various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated.

What is claimed is:
 1. A wearable ring device comprising: an annularmember defining an aperture therethrough that is sized for receipttherein of a first finger of a user; a computer processor housed in theannular member; a touchscreen electrically connected to the computerprocessor and disposed at least partially at an outer peripheral surfaceof the annular member, wherein the touchscreen is configured to receiveinput from a second finger of the user; a wireless transceiverelectrically connected to the computer processor and configured tocommunicate with at least one external electronic device; and arechargeable power source for supplying power to the touchscreen,wireless transceiver, and computer processor.
 2. The device of claim 1,further comprising a microphone electrically connected to the computerprocessor for recognizing a voice command of the user.
 3. The device ofclaim 2, wherein the microphone is configured to activate to in responseto a command by the user.
 4. The device of claim 1, further comprising ahaptic actuator for identifying recognition of the command to the user.5. The device of claim 4, further comprising a second haptic actuator,wherein the haptic actuator and second haptic actuator are configuredfor conveying directional information to the user.
 6. The device ofclaim 1, further comprising a dial control for receiving input from theuser.
 7. The device of claim 1, further comprising a wireless powerreceiver circuit for recharging the power source from a wireless powersource.
 8. The device of claim 1, further comprising a sensor forsensing a writing motion of the user, wherein the wireless transceivertransmits information to the at least one external electronic devicerelated to characters written by the user.
 9. The device of claim 1,further comprising a biometric sensor for sensing biometric informationof the user.
 10. The device of claim 1, further comprising anear-field-communication tag for transmitting data related to the userto the external electronic device to thereby change a state of theexternal electronic device.
 11. A method for controlling a remoteelectronic device using a finger-ring-mounted touchscreen, the methodcomprising: receiving, on a touchscreen electrically connected to acomputer processor and disposed at least partially at an outerperipheral surface of a ring disposed on a first finger of a user, inputfrom a second finger of the user; selecting, using the computerprocessor, one of a plurality of touch events associated with the input;and wirelessly transmitting a command associated with the touch event toat least one external electronic device.
 12. The method of claim 11,further comprising notifying the user of transmission of the command byissuing haptic feedback to the first finger of the user.
 13. The methodof claim 11, wherein selecting the one of the plurality of touch eventscomprises recognizing a gesture made by the user that is associated withthe command.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the external electronicdevice is a second finger-ring-mounted and wherein the transmittedcommand causes the second finger-ring-mounted to issue feedbackcorresponding to a message of the user to a second user.
 15. The methodof claim 14, wherein the user associates the input with the feedback.16. The method of claim 11, further comprising: receiving, using amicrophone electrically connected to the computer processor, a voiceinput of the user; and transmitting the voice input to the at least oneexternal electronic device.
 17. The method of claim 16, furthercomprising activating the microphone in response to a command from theuser.
 18. The method of claim 11, further comprising establishing awireless link with the at least one external electronic device inresponse to a gesture by the user.
 19. The method of claim 18, whereinthe gesture comprises pointing at the external electronic device withthe first finger.
 20. The method of claim 11, further comprisingdetecting handwriting of the user using a motion sensor electricallyconnected to a computer processor and transmitting the detectedhandwriting to the at least one external electronic device.
 21. Themethod of claim 11, wherein the input is a character drawn by the useron the finger-ring-mounted touchscreen.
 22. The method of claim 11,wherein the at least one external electronic device further receivescommands from at least one other finger-ring-mounted touchscreen. 23.The method of claim 11, further comprising changing a state of theexternal electronic device by bringing a near-field communication deviceelectrically connected to the computer processor into proximitytherewith.
 24. The method of claim 11, further comprising transmittinginformation to the external electronic device by bringing a near-fieldcommunication device electrically connected to the computer processorinto proximity therewith.
 25. A method for displaying information usinga ring computing device worn on a first finger of a user, the methodcomprising: receiving, using a wireless transceiver electricallyconnected to a computer processor housed in the ring computing device,information transmitted from at least one external electronic device;and displaying information on a touchscreen electrically connected tothe computer processor and disposed at least partially at an outerperipheral surface of the ring computing device.
 26. The method of claim25, further comprising activating a haptic actuator based on thereceived information.
 27. The method of claim 26, wherein the receivedinformation comprises a character drawn by a second user of a secondring computing device.
 28. The method of claim 26, wherein activatingthe haptic actuator comprises a plurality of pulses encoding thereceived information.
 29. The method of claim 25, further comprising (i)receiving input from a second finger of the user on the touchscreen;(ii) selecting, using the computer processor, one of a plurality oftouch events associated with the input; and (iii) wirelesslytransmitting a command associated with the touch event to at least oneexternal electronic device.
 30. The method of claim 25, furthercomprising changing a state of the external electronic device bybringing a near-field communication device electrically connected to thecomputer processor into proximity therewith.
 31. The method of claim 25,further comprising transmitting information to the external electronicdevice by bringing a near-field communication device electricallyconnected to the computer processor into proximity therewith.